Chennai: Refuting the opposition charge that there has been a steep decline in the enrollment of students to the State-run Adi Dravidar schools, Adi Dravidar Minister V. M. Rajalakshmi said the economic prosperity has lead to students migrating to the urban centres to pursue their education.
“The pro development initiatives of Amma (late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa ) has facilitated a qualitative improvement in the lives of the Adi Dravidars. Some of the students pursued their education in the urban areas as their parents had migrated from the rural areas,” Ms. Rajalakshmi said in the Assembly on Wednesday.
While School Education Minister K. A. Sengottaiyan asserted that along with economic prosperity apart, many Adi Dravidar became educated, Higher Education Minister K. P. Anbalagan said the enrollment of the students from this community to colleges and universities had increased.
Handlooms Minister O. S. Manian said former CM MGR had created a revolution by paving way for the Adi Dravidar members to become Village Administrative Officers (VAOs).
In order to reduce the impoverished conditions of the Adi Dravidar people financial assistance is provided to start various business activities within the age group of 18 to 65, irrespective of their educational qualification, according to the policy note on Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare tabled in the Assembly by Ms. Rajalakshmi.
Under this scheme, about Rs 66.50 crore has been allocated during 2018 – 19 as subsidy to benefit about 5050 persons. In addition, a sum of Rs 22 lakh has been allocated during the current fiscal as subsidy to benefit about ten persons under the special scheme of EDP.
C-6
