Varthana Fuels Odisha’s Quiet Education Revolution
ODISHA, xx April, 2026: Far from policy corridors and urban headlines, Odisha’s education story is being rewritten classroom by classroom, as affordable private schools serving low- and middle-income families strengthen their infrastructure and operations with timely financial support. Over the last decade, Odisha has recorded steady progress in school enrolment. State education data indicates that gross enrolment at the elementary level exceeds 95%. However, educators point out that access alone is not enough, as several schools continue to face gaps in basic infrastructure, working capital constraints, teacher shortages, and limited ability to scale sustainably. Addressing this need, education-focused lender Varthana has expanded its support in the state. The company currently supports 1,260 affordable private schools across Odisha, reaching lakhs of students. Since entering Odisha, Varthana has disbursed over ₹524 crore in education-focused loans, building a wider on-ground presence across districts.
Most of these schools operate with thin financial buffers, charging monthly fees between ₹600 and ₹1,200. In such settings, even short-term cash flow disruptions can lead to delayed teacher salaries, stalled infrastructure upgrades, and interruptions in classroom learning. Varthana’s financing support has enabled schools to invest in classroom expansion, sanitation facilities, and electricity-backed learning environments, while also strengthening day-to-day stability through working capital support. Schools supported by the lender have reported improvement in teacher stability, driven by timely salary payments and better operational planning. As part of its footprint in the state, Varthana has supported 700+ schools across 400+ pin codes in Odisha, helping institutions expand enrolment capacity without compromising learning outcomes, according to available impact indicators.
Dr K C Mohanty, an educator in Odisha, said, “I was inspired by the words of Swami Chidanand: ‘Our life is not just for ourselves; we need to serve society.’ These words remained with me, guiding my purpose as an educator. I faced many hardships to pursue my education. I want to ensure that no student under my care goes through the same. I plan to support students so that economic barriers do not hinder their academic growth.”
Independent impact assessments indicate that students studying in well-supported affordable private schools in Odisha have shown improvement in grade-level learning outcomes over multiple academic cycles, along with higher transition rates from primary to secondary schooling, particularly among first-generation learners.
For families earning below ₹3 lakh annually, such schools often remain a key bridge between aspiration and opportunity. Stakeholders note that sustained support to affordable institutions could play a significant role in strengthening education outcomes in Odisha, especially in underserved regions.
