VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday released the third tranche of ₹ 686 crore “Jagananna Vidya Deevena”. The amount got credited directly into the accounts of 9,87,965 mothers of 11.03 lakh students pursuing their higher studies.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister observed that education alone can eliminate poverty and empower people. With this in mind, his government is spending ₹ 6,259 crore towards total fee reimbursement, benefiting 21,48,477 students through Vidya Deevena scheme since 2019.
The CM underlined that state government is aiming to ensure that entire AP becomes literate and 100 per cent of its youth become at least graduates. He stated that the government has also cleared ₹ 1,778 crore pending dues of the previous government to students.
Jagan Mohan Reddy said various amounts are being directly credited into the mother's accounts, as they will have better supervision of their children’s wellbeing. This would improve accountability among college managements. He suggested that if anyone is facing any problem, they can call toll-free number 1902.
The Chief Minister urged beneficiaries to pay the credited amount into the accounts of their children’s respective colleges within 7–10 days without fail. He maintained that the government will otherwise directly credit the amount into the accounts of college managements. He said the government has taken steps to help meritorious students by reserving for them under convenor’s quota 50 per cent seats in medical and dental streams and 35 per cent seats in engineering and other courses. He pointed out that so far, 2,118 students studying in private universities are getting total fee reimbursement through the Vidya Deevena scheme.
The CM recalled the All India Survey on Higher Education, wherein Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of students between 17–23 years in colleges has increased to 35.2 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, registering a growth of 8.6 percent against the national growth of 3.04 per cent.
Jagan Mohan Reddy said as part of reforms in the education sector, bilingual textbooks have been introduced, internships have been made mandatory, courses for upgrading skills have been introduced at 30 skill development colleges, and one skill university in the state is being started by partnering with companies like Microsoft.
Ministers Adimulapu Suresh and Botsa Satyanarayana, chief secretary Sameer Sharma, special CS Satish Chandra, special secretary (Social Welfare) K. Sunita, APSCHE chairman K. Hemachandra Reddy, principal secretary (Higher Education) P.K. Shyamala Rao, secretary (Tribal Welfare) Kantilal Dande and special secretary (Minority Welfare) Gandham Chandradu were present.
