Bhubaneswar, June 22: Weeks after becoming the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal government in the state planned to shut down 966 primary schools with less than 10 students on its rolls in KBK region. The latest information has been disseminated by state's school and mass education minister Sameer Das on Saturday.

Informing more about the new plan of the state government, the state education minister pointed out that the schools which will be shut down for having less than 10 students, will be shifted to another school within 1 km area. To help the students reach schools, financial aid would be provided, along with transportation and escort. Odisha Minister Faces Flak for Calling Himself 'God', CM Naveen Patnaik 'Lord Jagannath'

The state education department informed that those students with more than 75 per cent attendance will be paid Rs 600 per month. Adding on, the department informed that hose with 50 to 74 per cent attendance will get Rs 400 per month. For those with 30 to 49 per cent attendance will get Rs 300 per month, while below this no one will be paid anything.

In Odisha, there are 35,928 primary schools to provide education at the elementary level, reports Hindustan Times, adding that last year they closed more than 1,160 schools for having 10 or fewer students.

It is to be known that most of these schools are in the KBK region of the state. KBK region consists of old districts of Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi in Odisha. It has now been further divided into eight districts in 1992-93. They include Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Balangir, Subarnapur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. Also, these eight districts comprise of 14 Sub-divisions, 80 Tahsils, and as many Community Development Blocks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 22, 2019 11:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).