Balangir, 27th Sept 2025: In 2015, the previous BJD government launched Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs) in various blocks across the state with the vision that even children from poor families in Odisha should have the right to study in English medium schools, just like those from wealthier backgrounds. As a result, many children from economically weaker households were able to receive an education in English.
However, while the Odisha Government provided category-based reservations and rights for General, SC, and ST students in these Adarsha Vidyalayas, it neglected students from the OBC (SEBC) category. These students were instead included under the General category, denying them their rightful reservation benefits.
Several times in the past, organizations such as ‘Seva for Disability’ — which advocates for differently-abled and marginalized groups — raised this issue with the Chief Minister’s grievance cell during the previous government’s tenure. Unfortunately, their complaints were ignored.
Now, although a BJP government is in power, it appears to be continuing the same neglect toward OBC (SEBC) students in Adarsha Vidyalayas. A recent and glaring example of this injustice is from this year’s admissions to the Iconic Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas, which are meant to provide advanced education opportunities to meritorious students after they pass Class 10.
This year:
General category students with 90% and above
SC/ST students with 80% and above
were considered eligible for Iconic admissions.
However, while selections were made based on these percentage cutoffs, OBC students were forced to compete under the General category, without any reserved cutoff or quota. As a result, many deserving OBC students from poor families, who might have scored just 1 mark below 90%, were denied admission to Iconic schools — despite having strong academic performance.
This has caused significant mental distress for these students and their families.
Educationists and various institutions are now urging the current government to stop this discriminatory practice and provide due rights and reservation to OBC (SEBC) students. If proper provisions had been made, many of these students could have realized their dreams of studying in Iconic Adarsha Vidyalayas.