West Bengal Trails in Vidyanjali Scheme: Only 52 Government Schools Onboarded, Says Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary

New Delhi, February 11, 2026 – Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary informed Parliament that only 52 government schools in West Bengal have been onboarded under the Vidyanjali initiative, highlighting a low uptake compared to the national push for community participation in school development.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Chaudhary stated that the Vidyanjali portal, launched to facilitate volunteer contributions in assets, services, and activities for government and government-aided schools, has seen limited engagement from the state. The scheme enables individuals, corporates, and organisations to directly support schools through financial or material aid.

Nationally, thousands of schools have benefited from Vidyanjali since its revamp, with volunteers contributing to infrastructure, digital resources, and extracurricular activities. However, West Bengal’s participation remains among the lowest, raising questions about coordination between the Centre and the state government.

The minister urged greater involvement to improve educational facilities and outcomes in government schools. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on community and private sector partnership in public education.

Education experts have called for proactive steps from the state to onboard more schools, noting that enhanced participation could address gaps in resources and infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas of West Bengal. The government continues to promote the portal for wider adoption.