Bhubaneswar, July 1: In a major administrative reform aimed at improving efficiency in higher educational institutions, the Odisha Higher Education Department has decided to introduce a centralised Facility Management Services (FMS) system in all government colleges and teacher education institutions across the state. The new system is expected to streamline the management of essential non-academic services under a single framework.

According to an official communication issued on Wednesday, the department has decided to discontinue the existing practice of engaging housekeeping, security, maintenance, and other support staff through multiple outsourcing agencies. Instead, these services will be managed through a unified, centrally administered Facility Management Services model to be finalised and implemented by the Higher Education Department.

The directive, issued by Joint Secretary to the Government Santi Sudha Patra, has been sent to the principals of all government colleges and teacher education institutions. As part of the transition, institutions have been instructed to furnish detailed information regarding their existing and projected manpower requirements.

Officials said the move is intended to ensure greater transparency, uniformity, and efficiency in the deployment of non-teaching personnel across educational institutions. A centralised system is also expected to improve monitoring, optimise resource utilisation, and ensure consistent service standards throughout the state.

To facilitate the process, institutions have been asked to submit the required data through a designated Google Sheet available on the Higher Education Management Information System (HIMS) portal. The department has set July 3, 2026, as the deadline for submission and has marked the exercise as "most urgent."

The information collected from colleges and teacher education institutions will help the department assess the overall manpower requirement before rolling out the new FMS model. Officials believe the initiative will strengthen institutional administration by creating a more organised and accountable system for managing essential support services, allowing educational institutions to focus more effectively on academic activities.

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