Date:23/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/23/stories/2003122310360500.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Parents of 3.6 lakh kids to get financial aid

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Dec. 22. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has announced that the Government will extend financial assistance to parents of 3.6 lakh children who are not enrolled in schools as part of its drive to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the State by 2005.

Presenting the first `Progress report" on education, health and sports sectors through television channels and later talking to newsmen, he said that the Government would extend assistance under Velugu project to enable the parents to take up employment-generation activities and earn their livelihood.

Explaining the rationale behind presenting the progress report, he said that in a democracy every Government was answerable to people.

The presentation of the progress report would not only enlighten people but also help the Government to provide improved services to them.

The three subjects of education, health and sports were part of the HRD which was being given high priority by the Government in order to develop a knowledge society.

Giving a comparative performance of the integrated child development scheme, he said that while there were 192 ICDS projects prior to 1995, there were 351 now and the amount allocated had gone up to Rs. 527 crores as against Rs. 72.76 crores in 1992-93.

The number of beneficiaries covered by ICDS now was 86,23, 403 as against 48,00,138 prior to 1995.

As a result of the measures taken by the Government, the literacy rate had gone up to 72.89 and the progress was witnessed mostly in backward districts.

The Chief Minister also mentioned about the development of infrastructure in education, health and sports by giving statistics and the measures taken by the Government to contain infectious diseases, HIV and curb population growth.

Later, interacting with the viewers, Mr. Naidu gave on the spot instructions to officials to act immediately on complaint that a junior college which was sanctioned earlier had no building of its own.

To a query from another person, he said that 16,000 teachers would be recruited before June.

He also assured to look into the individual complaint of another viewer relating to education department.