Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today launched his government's flagship "Amma Vodi" scheme.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today launched his government's flagship "Amma Vodi" scheme.
The scheme gives Rs. 15,000 a year each to poor women in the State to educate their children. Jagan pressed a button on a laptop that would instantly credit the amount to the accounts of 43 lakh women, and benefit 82 lakh children.
The launch of the scheme also coincides with the completion of one year after Jagan's walkathon Praja Sankalpa Yatra ended at Icchapuram in Srikakulam district.
Speaking on the occasion, at a public meeting in Chittoor, the Chief Minister said that the scheme was launched to help poor mothers give their children access to quality education, and to achieve 100% literacy rate in the State.
He recalled that during his padayatra, he had seen many mothers facing problems in providing basic amenities to their children, and that that was the inspiration for the scheme, which was costing Rs 6,318 crore.
He said his government had also waived off the compulsory 75% attendance rule to extend the monetary benefit this time. He however said that the 75% attendance would be implemented strictly from the next year.
He exhorted the mothers who had not yet applied for the scheme to apply before February 9.
He also announced that English was going to be the medium of instruction from classes 1 to 6 in all government schools from this academic year, and would progressively become the medium until class 10 in four years.
"The transition from Telugu medium to English will be difficult, but bridge courses will be conducted to overcome this issue. We will also conduct training courses for teachers to help them ease the transition and ensure that they are also able to teach in English. We are confident that by 2040 our children will be able to compete anywhere in the world," Jagan said.
He also reiterated that Telugu would be a compulsory subject, and also that the syllabus in government schools would be updated.
The Chief Minister also declared fee reimbursement to all SC, ST, BC, EBC, Kapu, differently-abled, minority and economically poor students pursuing graduate, post-graduate, polytechnic and engineering courses in the State.
The Chief Minister said that changes were also in the offing in the mid-day meal scheme in public schools. A special weekly menu was being set up, and for this the government would incur an additional burden of Rs 200 crore, he said. He also elaborated on the items on the menu, which he said would create a well-balanced meal of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins:
Monday - rice, dal, egg curry, a sweet, a peanut bar
Tuesday - pulihora, tomato dal, a boiled egg
Wednesday - vegetable rice, aloo kurma, a boiled egg, a sweet, a peanut bar
Thursday - khichdi, tomato chutney, a boiled egg
Friday - rice, a leafy vegetable, a boiled egg, a sweet, a peanut bar
Saturday - rice, sambar, sweet pongal
He claimed that people across the country were praising the AP government for its steps for children's education and welfare.