Khammam: Concerned officials are expecting a 20 per cent increase in enrolment at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayams in the district for the academic year 2019-20. The changing attitude of parents and facilities being provided are believed to be the reasons for it. Parents are giving utmost preference to their girl children and are encouraging them to join KGBVs because they consider them to be safe places.
Further, the Vidyalayams are being considered as heaven for poor families. The hygiene kits being given to the children turned out to be a special attraction for the poor students. The kit value in the open market is around Rs 1,200, but the government is getting it at Rs 400.
The existing reverse osmosis water plants set up at a cost of Rs 1 lakh each will be beneficial for the health of the students.
Interestingly, geysers were also set up to extend hot water to the students for baths in winter. The students will be given trunk boxes, blankets, a carpet and woollen blanket immediately after joining.
There are 14 KGBVs in the district including Chintakani, Bonakal, Konugerla, Mudigonda, Tirumalayapalem, Kamepalli, Penuballi, Enkoor, Errupalem, Kusumanchi, Karepalli, Khammam Rural and Urban and Raghunathapalem.
There were 2,537 students in 14 KGBVs for the year 2018-19 and 300 new students joined this year. The officials expected the number to be 550 in 2019-20.
Assessing the situation, infrastructure facilities are being provided in the Vidyalayams. For it, about 18 additional classrooms are being built in the 14 KGBVs at a cost of '2.25 crore. The construction will be completed before commencement of the next financial year.
At the same time as repairs to the old buildings are completed, the kitchens in the Vidyalayams will be provided with all facilities including grinders, plates, glasses and other utensils at a cost of '30,000 for each KGBV. Compound walls will be built around every KGBV. The KGBVs are being renovated so that the students do not feel home sick. As part of the initiative, healthy and hygienic food will be served to them.
