Bhubaneswar: The Odisha School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department has introduced revised guidelines for providing financial assistance to students who die or suffer permanent disabilities in accidents linked to school, including while commuting to and from educational institutions or participating in school-related activities.
The revised provisions are aimed at ensuring that affected students and their families receive timely financial and medical support following serious accidents.
Students From Shishu Vatika To Class XII Covered
Under the new guidelines, the assistance scheme will cover students from Shishu Vatika through Class XII. The revised provisions replace the earlier guidelines issued by the department through Letter No. 468 dated March 25, 2015.
One of the key provisions is the payment of Rs 2 lakh as financial assistance in cases where an eligible student dies or suffers permanent disability as a result of a road accident.
The move is expected to provide immediate financial relief to families dealing with the consequences of serious accidents involving school-going children.
Assistance For Emergency Medical Support
The revised guidelines also provide financial assistance for the treatment and transportation of injured students.
If an injured student needs to be shifted to a higher medical facility, financial assistance of up to Rs 30,000 will be available for the transfer. An additional Rs 10,000 can be provided towards transportation expenses.
Students affected by such accidents will also be entitled to free treatment at government health facilities, according to the new provisions.
These measures are intended to ensure that financial constraints do not delay emergency medical care for students following serious accidents.
Parents To Receive Ex-Gratia Assistance
The ex-gratia amount approved under the guidelines will ordinarily be handed over to the student’s mother or father.
In cases where neither parent is available, the assistance will be provided to a guardian identified by the District Collector.
The department has also prescribed an approval mechanism involving the concerned headmaster, District Collector, District Education Officer (DEO) and Block Education Officer (BEO) before the assistance is released.
Importantly, the revised system seeks to minimise delays in delivering financial support. Once approval has been granted, the sanctioned amount is required to reach the parent or identified guardian within 24 hours.
Revised Rules Come Amid Road Accident Concerns
The introduction of the new provisions comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over road safety in Odisha. Government data indicates that road accidents have resulted in a significant number of deaths and injuries across the state over the past decade.
According to information provided by the Chief Minister in a written reply to MLA Bibhuti Bhushan Balabantaray in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on March 9 this year, the state recorded 1,13,325 road accident cases over the last 10 years.
In 2024, Odisha registered 12,375 road accident cases, with 6,483 deaths reported. In 2025, the number of registered accidents increased to 12,782, while 6,483 people reportedly lost their lives.
Over the decade, road accidents in Odisha claimed the lives of 53,451 people. A further 55,783 people sustained serious injuries, while 45,146 suffered minor injuries.
No Separate Data On Schoolchildren Available
Despite the extensive road accident data, there is currently no clear figure available specifically indicating how many schoolchildren have died in road accidents in Odisha over the same period.
The revised assistance guidelines, however, specifically recognise the vulnerability of students and provide a structured mechanism for supporting children and their families in the event of fatal accidents or permanent disabilities.
By extending coverage from Shishu Vatika to Class XII and requiring assistance to be released within 24 hours of approval, the state government aims to make the support system faster and more accessible for families facing sudden and devastating circumstances.
