Amaravati: In one of the first major public programmes amid the COVID pandemic and multiple unlock phases, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched the ‘Jagananna Vidya Kanuka'.
'Jagananna Vidya Kanuka' has been envisaged government scheme for school children up to standard 10. The scheme promises to provide uniforms, books, shoes, socks, belts and school bags to lakhs of students in the State.
"This government aims to protect every child's education and provide the best education system to all. This scheme is another step towards increasing enrollment rates in government schools and bringing down the dropout rates," said Reddy, launching the scheme.
As many as 42.3 lakh students will be provided with the student kits, incurring an expense of Rs 650 crore to the State exchequer.
Student kits will contain three pairs of uniform dress, one pair of shoes, two pairs of socks, a belt, one set of textbooks, notebooks and a school bag.
After launching the scheme, the Chief Minister himself made a student wear a school bag.
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These kits will be distributed to children across the state over the next three days. The launch comes in the wake of the government's announcement to reopen the schools on November 2 by following COVID guidelines.
"We are changing the face of public schools day by day under 'Nadu-Nedu'. Our main goal is to provide nutritious food and clean water in all schools. Close to 44 lakh students studying in the government schools will receive these kits by November 2," reassured the Chief Minister.
Reddy said the state government is implementing eight schemes to change the lives of the poor.
Under 'Ammavodi' (mother's lap), Rs 15,000 will be distributed to women who hail from financially weak backgrounds and have school-going children. 'Ammavodi' applies to eligible students from I to XII standards.
As many as 43 lakh mothers are expected to benefit from the Rs 6,500 crore Ammavodi scheme.
Under the Nadu-Nedu (then and now) scheme 45,000 government schools will be renovated. In the first phase, the state government allocated Rs 3,600 crore for 15,715 schools.
Nadu-Nedu will transform the basic infrastructure of schools like blackboards, fans, compound walls, and other furniture to give a new look to the government schools.
The government intends to spend Rs 11,370 crore on Nadu-Nadu in three years.
Jagananna Gorumudda, a mid-day meal scheme will offer nutritious food to 40 lakh students in 45,484 government and aided schools.
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(IANS)
