BHUBANESWAR: School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra on Thursday asked the department officials to ensure that all students are supplied with text books by the end of summer vacation.
The State Government supplies free text books to students from class one to eight. The Minister reviewed the supply of text books at a high level meeting.
Official sources maintained that 42.5 per cent of textbooks have been supplied to students so far. Textbook supply percentage has declined this year as compared to last year.
Nearly 53 lakh students will be supplied 2,78,31,888 textbooks in 2017-18. So far, 1,18,84,734 text books have been provided to students. Sources said supply of books was delayed as the transport agency demanded higher charges than which was agreed to.
The Minister asked department authorities to cancel the agreement with the transport agency and finalise a new firm to expedite supply of books.
Printing and binding of textbooks were held up because of a case in the High Court in this regard. After the High Court judgment in January, printing and binding of textbooks started and have been completed now.