1,500 crore to improve amenities in schools: M Srinivasa Rao

Visakhapatnam: All government schools will soon get a facelift in phased manner as the YSRCP government is keen on their makeover, Tourism Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao said.

After the launch of the State government's flagship programme 'Manabadi Naadu-Nedu' at Zilla Parishad High School at Thotagaruvu, Chinnagadili mandal on Thursday, the Minister termed the government's decision to introduce English as a medium of instruction as 'historical.'

"With this move, parents need not shell out lakhs of amount for the education of their wards in private schools," Srinivasa Rao reiterated. Further, he informed that the government allocated Rs 1,500 crore for provision of all facilities in schools in the state and added granting such a huge amount was unprecedented.

Over 45,000-odd schools in the state would be developed with the funds under the scheme, he stated. Apart from government schools, junior, degree, polytechnic, ITI, Gurukul and hostels will also be benefited from Nadu-Nedu, the Tourism Minister said.

Similarly, the mothers who send their wards to government schools would get Rs.15,000 every year under the 'Amma Vodi' scheme, Srinivasa Rao said. Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister K Kannababu said Naadu-Nedu will bridge the gap between haves and have-nots.

"The objective of this flagship programme is to match up to the corporate school standards and empower government school students with all the amenities," he mentioned. VMRDA Chairman Dronamraju Srinvasa Rao, District Collector V Vinay Chand, among others took part in the launch of Nadu-Nedu.