Bhubaneswar, 18 June (H.S.): The Odisha Government has announced the composition of a high-level committee tasked with investigating the widespread printing errors detected in school textbooks for Classes I to VIII.
Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Chairman of the three-member panel. The committee also includes Bijay Ketan Upadhyay, Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, and Smita Pani, Deputy Secretary of the General Administration Department.
The committee was constituted following the directions of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi amid growing concerns over inaccuracies and printing defects in school textbooks distributed across the state.
According to official sources, the panel has been entrusted with conducting a comprehensive inquiry into the lapses, identifying the stages at which the errors occurred, and fixing accountability on the officials, agencies, or entities responsible for the mistakes. The committee has been directed to submit its findings and recommendations within seven days.
The decision comes after Chief Minister Majhi expressed strong displeasure during a review meeting held on Wednesday, where the issue of textbook errors was discussed. The Chief Minister noted that the defects had adversely affected students' learning and created unnecessary difficulties in the academic process.
Emphasising the need for accountability and quality control, Majhi ordered immediate corrective measures and directed authorities to initiate strict action against those found responsible for the lapses. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring error-free educational materials and safeguarding the interests of students across the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
