Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday launched the ‘ShaktiShree’ mobile application and released internship guidelines aimed at strengthening higher education in the state.

The initiatives were introduced during a two-day national workshop attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

The ShaktiShree app is designed to support girl students by improving safety and access within higher education institutions. It provides 24/7 SOS alerts, anonymous reporting of harassment, mental health support, and links users to institutional Internal Complaints Committees.

The internship guidelines seek to align academic learning with practical experience through internships, community engagement and skill-based learning, in line with the National Education Policy 2020.

Speaking at the event, Majhi said education extends beyond textbooks and underpins progress and innovation, reiterating the state’s aim to develop Odisha as a knowledge hub.

Pradhan said the National Education Policy 2020 is a national mission to position India as a global knowledge centre, highlighting the role of skill development and innovation.

Suraj said the initiatives mark a new phase in the state’s higher education system and will equip students with skills and exposure.

The workshop brought together policymakers, academics and institutional leaders to discuss implementation of the policy, with sessions focusing on improving Gross Enrolment Ratio, promoting multidisciplinary education and strengthening industry-academia collaboration.

Inputs from PTI

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