Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said more than 1,000 government schools in the state will be transformed with modern facilities like smart classrooms, e-library cum reading rooms, modern science laboratory, hygienic toilets, safe drinking water and sports infrastructures.

Patnaik said in the first phase 1,070 schools will be transformed with modern facilities and termed the move as the base for a progressive Odisha,

The chief minister on Saturday said the decision to transform the schools will bring new opportunities for children of the state and will help them fulfil their dreams.

Patnaik dedicated 10 transformed government schools to the state which have all the modern facilities like smart classrooms, e-library cum reading rooms, modern science laboratory, hygienic toilets, safe drinking water and sports infrastructures.

He inaugurated 10 such transformed schools in his own assembly constituency of Hinjili in Ganjam district on Saturday. As many as 50 such schools have been completely transformed with all the facilities that are not even available in private schools in the state capital.

While Patnaik inaugurated the schools from Bhubaneswar through virtual mode, ministers, MLAs and other functionaries were present at the schools along with the students, parents and local people. The projects were undertaken under the state government’s 5T (Technology, Team work, Time, Transparency leading to Transformation) initiative.