TIRUPATI: Works under ‘Mana Badi-Nadu Nedu’, which provides for revamp of the entire infrastructure in government schools, are nearing completion in Chittoor district. As of now, 98.74 per cent of the works have been completed.
The face-lift has been such that nearly 1,533 government schools in the district seem transformed following the refurbishment in the first phase of Nadu-Nedu. As many as 11,245 works have been taken up at an overall cost of Rs 369.60 crore. Of them, 11,103 works have been completed.
According to officials, nine different components including toilets with running water, drinking water, electrification, major and minor works, furniture for staff and students, English labs, painting of the entire school premises, green chalk boards and construction of compound walls were taken up under the scheme.
“The state government is giving priority to the education and medical sectors. Nearly 98.74 per cent of Nadu-Nedu works were accomplished and efforts are on to complete all works. In the second phase, we will undertake revamping one-third of the total schools in the district from the day they reopen”, district collector M. Harinarayanan said.
According to him, about 122 State-run schools in Chandragiri have been transformed into vibrant and competitive institutions at a cost of Rs 26.08 crore, followed by Chittoor – 54 schools at (Rs 10.54 crore, G.D. Nellore 139 (Rs 28.32 cr), Kuppam 121 (Rs 32.04 cr), Madanapalli 69 (Rs 18.72 cr), Nagari 104 (Rs 23.50 cr), Palamaner 112 (Rs 32.87 cr), Piler 115 (Rs 35.79 cr), Puthalapattu 123 ((Rs 24.99 cr), Punganur 127 ((Rs 31.41 cr), Satyavedu 171 ((Rs 32.70 cr), Thamballapalle 99 ((Rs 24.95 cr) and in Tirupati 22 schools at a cost of Rs 7.47 crore.
Meanwhile, several parents and students now feel that the government schools are much better not only in looks but also in basic infrastructure and education.
According to officials from the education department, parents are eager to admit their children in government schools.
“My husband and I are daily-wage workers with two children. They were studying in MPP government school in Pichatur mandal, which lacked basic infrastructure facilities. But the school now bears a new-look and our children are eager to go to school”, said Selvi, a parent from Raja Nagar.
