Own Buildings for 37 Degree Colleges, Model Libraries in All 175 Constituencies: Lokesh
The government was committed to strengthening infrastructure in government degree colleges, while also mobilising the required funds.
Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh government is examining proposals to provide permanent buildings and complete infrastructure to 37 government degree colleges across the state, Education Minister Nara Lokesh said in the assembly on Wednesday.
Replying to a question from Allagadda MLA Bhooma Akhila Priya on the lack of adequate classrooms and a permanent building for the government degree college in Allagadda, Lokesh said the government would take steps to provide the required infrastructure.
He said it would cost about `15 crore to complete each degree college with all necessary facilities. The government was committed to strengthening infrastructure in government degree colleges, while also mobilising the required funds.
The Allagadda college, which had only 18 students in its first year, now has 103 students enrolled for 2025-26. As land is already available, the government would prepare an estimate and take up construction, including a compound wall, under the appropriate scheme.
Lokesh also said vacant teaching and non-teaching posts would be filled. Laboratories, computers and furniture would be provided, he said and asked the MLA to mobilise additional support under the P4 initiative.
On libraries, Lokesh said the government had accorded special priority to strengthening the state's library network. A model library established in Mangalagiri at a cost of around Rs 1 crore had facilities, competitive-examination books and other amenities. Up to 300 aspirants were staying there day and night to prepare for competitive examinations, he said.
The government, he said, plans to establish libraries at the constituency, district, zonal and central levels. It has also prepared an action plan to establish libraries in all 175 assembly constituencies over the next three years.
Lokesh assured the assembly that construction of the Kadapa library would be completed within nine months. The government had also succeeded in ensuring that library cess funds, which were earlier routed directly to the treasury through CFMS, were released to the department from this year.
The education minister urged elected representatives to mobilise CSR support from industrialists and alumni who had reached prominent positions to strengthen libraries. He cited the Guntur zonal library, developed jointly by the local MP and MLAs using CSR funds, as an example.
Lokesh said the proposed Amaravati Central Library would be integrated with the Global Institute of Good Governance, creating a campus with a central library, training centre and Telugu Cultural Centre. Its design would be finalised shortly, with the government aiming to make it one of the country's best central libraries.
Libraries could boost creativity and generate new ideas while helping children stay away from excessive dependence on smartphones and iPads, he said.
