Lokesh Reviews Talliki Vandanam Aid Likely in 3rd Week of July
Minister urges faster preparations, enrolment drive and timely admissions process
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is taking teps to ensure the speedy disbursal of financial assistance to students under the Talliki Vandanam scheme, with its implementation planned for the third week of July.
Education minister Nara Lokesh stated this at a review meeting with school and higher education officials on Tuesday.
Reviewing the education programmes like Talliki Vandanam, Badi Pilustondi, Shining Stars, mega parent-teacher meetings, Yogandhra and Teacher Eligibility Test examinations, the minister asked officials to expedite the preparations.
Officials informed him that Aadhaar verification of mothers, a crucial step for implementing the scheme, would be completed shortly, enabling the government to distribute the financial assistance as scheduled.
The education minister sought details on student enrolment in government schools and asked officials to strive and increase admissions.
The meeting decided to organise the Shining Stars programme on June 29 and the mega PTMs in the third week of July. Discussions were also held on the rationalisation and adjustment of surplus teaching staff across schools.
In a separate review with higher education officials, the minister directed the department to issue notifications for all Common Entrance Tests, including AP EAPCET, POLYCET and ICET, without delay and ensure admissions are completed within the prescribed schedule.
Lokesh emphasised that examination dates should be fixed after considering national-level entrance examinations and schedules in neighbouring states to avoid inconvenience to students. Officials, he said, must examine the possibility of increasing seats in government engineering and polytechnic colleges.
Officials informed him that demand remained strong for Mechanical and Civil Engineering streams in polytechnics.
The minister heard that preparations were underway for the AP EAPCET notification to facilitate admissions into nearly 1.88 lakh seats across 254 government and private engineering colleges in the state.
Lokesh reviewed the progress of discussions with several national and international institutions, including Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, James Cook University, University of Melbourne, Medhavi Skills University and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, which have expressed interest in establishing institutions in AP. He also wanted officials to expedite the proposed GMR-MANSAS Aviation University project.
Welcoming the Centre’s approval of an NCC state directorate for Andhra Pradesh, Lokesh said the move would strengthen NCC activities, training and camps in the state while providing greater opportunities and military-oriented training for the youth.
Education principal secretary Syamala Rao, school education director Tameem Ansariya, higher education commissioner Narayan Gupta and Samagra Shiksha state project director Srinivasa Rao were present.
