Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101456630300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Mid-day meal scheme to benefit 27 lakh students’

Correspondent

MAHABUBNAGAR: Minister for Rural Development G. Chinna Reddy said that over 27 lakh students studying in 10,500 schools in the State will get the benefit of mid-day meal scheme.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the mid-day meal scheme extended up to 10th class students here on Monday. The Minister said that over 1,78,000 students of 532 high schools in the district would be provided mid-day meal. He informed that with continuous efforts for the past 10 years, the district achieved 44 per cent literacy and it would be doubled by the year 2011.

Mr. Reddy also informed that a total of 52 Kasturba Balika Vidyalayalu were sanctioned to the district in the last three years, of which 32 were already established and the remaining 20 with an amount of Rs. 35 lakh each for construction of pucca building would be opened soon.

Zilla Parishad chairperson K. Damodhar Reddy, DCCB chairperson K. Veera Reddy, Municipal Chairperson Obedullah Kotwal, DEO Chengaiah also spoke.

KARIMNAGAR: Minister for Endowments J. Ratnakara Rao formally launched the mid-day meal scheme for high school students at the Government High School in Sapthagiri Colony in Karimnagar town.

ZP chairman Arepalli Mohan, Collector Sandeep Kumar Sultania, DEO N. Rameshwara Raju and others were also present on the occasion. The District Civil Supplies Department had already released 336.876 metric tonnes of rice for the first fortnight for various high schools.