<span style="color: #222222;">Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said that the government is committed to turn the COVID-19 situation into opportunity by doing new experiments to ensure safety and academic welfare of students. He said this while chairing a meeting with School Education Secretaries of all States and Union Territories. This was the biggest meeting held on School Education during the pandemic. In the meeting, various strategies that have been adopted for online and offline learning and the way forward was discussed.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister emphasized the need to continue the coherent efforts made by the states and Union Territories last year. He underscored the importance of reaching out to most vulnerable and marginalized children in this pandemic period. The Education Minister said that several Initiatives were undertaken last year for facilitating continuing learning during the pandemic. Expansion of DIKSHA under PM eVIDYA; DTH TV channels under the bouquet of SWAYAM PRABHA TV channels; launch of online NISHTHA training for teachers at DIKSHA; Launch of Manodarpan to cater to the socio-emotional and psychological needs of the students were some of the initiatives undertaken. He said several initiatives have also been taken to reach out to children without access to digital education. He also underlined the importance of involving various stakeholders for effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Further, the Education Ministry has said  that ad-hoc grants of over Rs 5200 crore have already been released to the states under Samagra Shiksha.  The Ministry further informed that an amount of Rs 2500 crore will be released soon to ensure continuity of various educational initiatives by the states and Union Territories.</span><br />''  <br />