Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7: The state government is planning to introduce insurance coverage for students of government schools.

The decision was taken following frequent incidents of school accidents leading to death and injury of students. The idea was discussed with a team of bankers who visited the school and mass education department earlier this week.

“We are discussing with various groups. Norms are yet to be finalised,” said school and mass education secretary Usha Padhee.

Once implemented, the scheme will benefit 66 lakh students in 35,928 primary and 20,427 upper primary besides 6,000 secondary schools.

“The scheme will insure students between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh. The money will be disbursed to meet the financial needs of the family. The details are yet to be finalised,” said an official of the department.

On Monday, a student was killed and another critically injured when a school boundary wall collapsed after a truck rammed into it in Rourkela. The incident took place when the truck carrying midday meal rice lost control and hit the boundary wall where two students were playing. They were rushed to IGH hospital where one of them was declared brought dead.

As of now the state government has been announcing compensation packages of around Rs1 lakh in case of major mishaps. In some cases the cost of treatment of the injured students are also borne by the government. However, this is not done unless there is an announcement from chief minister Naveen Patnaik.