Jagan releases second installment of Rs. 1,024 cr under Jagananna Vasathi Deevena

Nandyal: Asserting that poverty should not deprive a child of higher education, Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday credited Rs. 1,024 crore into the bank accounts of mothers of 10,68,150 students. This was the second installment of the Jagananna Vasathi Deevena scheme for the academic year 2021-22.

Addressing a public gathering at the SPG grounds on Friday, the Chief Minister said in order to provide quality education to students and to ease the financial burden on parents, the government has introduced Vidya Deevena, to reimburse college fees, and Vasathi Deevena, for boarding and hostel fees.

He said that many revolutionary reforms were introduced in the education sector – from midday meals under Goru Muddha to revamping infrastructure in schools through Nadu-Nedu and introducing bi-lingual textbooks.

Around Rs. 3,329 crore was spent on the scheme since the formation of the YSRCP government and Rs. 6,969 crore towards Vidya Deevena, besides clearing pending dues of Rs. 1,778 crore from the TDP rule. Jagan said the gross enrolment ratio in colleges has increased to 35.2% in AP, a growth of 8.64% against the national growth of 3%.

Mid-day meals

The Chief Minister slammed the Opposition and a section of the media for drawing controversy over the packaging of peanut chikki which is being distributed as part of the midday meals. He said the previous government had only spent Rs. 500 crore on midday meals, while now the state is providing healthy, nutritious, and tasty meals at an expenditure of Rs. 1,990 crore.

Further, Jagan promised to expand Autonagar, a marketing centre for chilli crops, and lay a 12-km road to develop a ring road as sought by the local leaders.