Jagan launches Amma Vodi
Scheme will promote literacy for all, support moms to educate children
Commemorating completion of one year of his Praja Sankalpa Padayatra, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched ‘Jagananna Amma Vodi’, a first-of-itskind scheme in the country which is aimed at both promoting literacy for all and to support indigent mothers to educate their children.
Before addressing a huge gathering at PVKN Grounds in Chittoor on Thursday, the Chief Minister with the click of a button on a laptop provided financial assistance of `15,000 each to approximately 42,12,186 mothers across the state that benefits 81,72,224 children. The state government has allocated `6,318 crore for the Amma Vodi scheme.
The Chief Minister said, “Education is the fundamental right of every child as enshrined in the Constitution. But it was not reaching a large section of the society. I have seen how impoverished mothers were unable to send their wards to school. That was when I decided to ensure that poverty should not be a hindrance for educating children.”
“As part of Amma Vodi scheme, `15,000 would be deposited directly into the accounts of mothers. It has been ensured that even if they have loans, this amount would not be touched and deposited in the unencumbered accounts,” he added.
The Chief Minister also asked the beneficiaries to donate `1,000 for maintenance of toilets and salaries to watchmen in schools.
Maintaining that revolutionary changes would be brought about in the government schools and colleges, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the government has allocated a budget of `14,000 crore to revamp infrastructure and modernise the 45,000 government schools, 471 junior colleges, 148 degree colleges and all hostels in the state in a phased manner.
“As part of Mana Badi Nadu-Nedu programme first phase, over 15,000 schools will be provided necessary infrastructure and compound walls. All the students would be provided school kits containing three pairs of uniform, books, shoes, socks, belt and a bag”, he added and said that the syllabus will be standardised across all government schools. Expressing concern over the declining enrolment rate in higher education, which is recorded at 23 per cent, Mr Reddy said that it was due to poverty.
“As part of meeting the requirements of students
pursuing higher studies, we are introducing “Jagananna Viya Deevena”, scheme under which total fee reimbursement would be provided for all SC, ST, BC, EBC, Kapus, differentlyabled, minority and economically-backward
students pursuing UG and PG, polytechnic and engineering courses. `20,000 would be provided in two instalments to each student to meet hostel and mess charges,” he elaborated.