NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, APRIL 28
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched another ambitious project ‘Jagananna Vidya Deevena’ which provides full fees reimbursement benefiting about 14 lakh students across the State.
With a single click, Rs 4000 crores along with the pending due of Rs 1880 crore during the previous TDP government, has been released to take forward the welfare programme keeping up yet another promise YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has made for the welfare of poorer sections.
The amount has been directly credited into the mothers’ account of the students. Carrying forward the light of education to the poor and downtrodden, the Chief Minister has taken the initiative of 100 per cent fee reimbursement for all the students.
The scheme is aimed at providing financial assistance to nearly 14 lakh students across the state and to ensure that students from lower-income households get financial assistance for their education while Jagannana Vasathi Deevana will take care of hostel and mess charges.
Interacting with students through a video conference, the Chief Minister assured that the State government will always prioritize education and health, where no family should fall into debt trap for the sake of education and health.
Despite going through a tough pandemic, the State government prioritized public welfare and thus launched this scheme. “Education is the only asset that we can offer to the lakhs of students of the downtrodden families. If a single student from each family completes their professional education and secure a good job, then the lives of the family members will be in better state.”
The Chief Minister said that the money under Jagananna Vidya Deevena will be directly credited into the accounts of the mothers of the students in four installments every year. In case, if the parents have paid the college fees for the 2019-20 academic year, the government asked the parents to approach the college management and claim the refund of the fee paid. Apart from those who took fresh admissions in the year 2019-20, those who were professional courses are also eligible for this scheme.
“If the fee gets paid by the parents, they will have an authority to question the college management regarding the facilities, quality of teaching, infrastructure and the like. Also, they would know the performance status of their children by visiting the college once every three months. In case if they find that the college management is not providing better facilities, then they can make a call to 1902 and give a complaint.”
Elated over the launch of the scheme, Jeevitha, a student from Srikakulam district said, “My family income is hardly Rs 60,000 per annum. Though I wanted to pursue higher studies, due to the lack of financial support, I couldn’t do that. But now, with your support, I am able to take my higher education. Our family is very much thankful to you for bringing schemes like Vasathi Deevena and Vidhya Deevena. Such schemes will benefit many families with poor financial income.”
SSC exams after lifting lockdown
The postponed SSC examinations will be held two weeks after the lockdown is lifted, said Minister for Education Adimulapu Suresh and the State academic calendar will be released as per the Human Resource Department (HRD) Ministry’s ad hoc calendar for the new academic year.
As per the instructions of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Education Department is planning to conduct SSC examinations two weeks after the lockdown is lifted and the exams will be held keeping in view all the guidelines while implementing the social distancing norms strictly so that students will not be affected, Minister said.
In a video conference held with the Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal on Tuesday, the State Minister has explained about the digital classes, online class work, and classes being broadcast through the Doordarshan Saptagiri channel in Andhra Pradesh.
The HRD Minister has suggested that the state should make use of digital education, online classes and said that the mid-day meals programme should continue in summer as well.
In reply Adimulapu Suresh said that the state government’s prestigious Jagananna Gorumudha (mid-day meal) scheme has extended to class 9 and 10 besides providing eggs and chikki in addition.
The State Minister requested the Union Minister to grant the funds of Central Government quota for Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGVB) and Model schools. Moreover, he requested to approve a few more model schools in rural areas in the state.
Considering the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the HRD Ministry has given an ad hoc calendar for new academic year. For the same, Minister Suresh said a new academic calendar will be released from the state government based on the HRD calendar.
