State varsity to come up in each unserved div

LUCKNOW : The state government on Monday proposed to set up one state university in each of the divisions, which do not have government universities so far, according to a proposal in the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2021-22.

In all, the state government allocated Rs 18,172 crore for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (integrated education campaign) to give a push to the school education system in the state.

Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna allocated Rs 3,406 crore for midday meal for all students between classes 1 and 8 enrolled in government primary and upper primary schools across UP.

For the basic education department, Rs 40 crore was allocated for free school uniforms to all students of classes 1-8, Rs 110 crore for free school bags, Rs 300 crore for free sweater, shoes and socks.

To give a boost to secondary education, the state government has allocated Rs 90 crore to complete the ongoing construction work of Sainik Schools in Mainpuri, Jhansi and Amethi and setting up of Sainik School in Gorakhpur.

To improve infrastructure in government-aided secondary schools, Rs 200 crore has been allocated.

The state government has allocated Rs 15 crore for construction of 150-bed hostel for girl cadets, a state of the art auditorium of 1,000 capacity and other development works at the Captain Manoj Pandey Sainik School in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow. Another Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the under-construction government intermediate colleges.

A provision of Rs 270 crore has been made for Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas. These will be state government-run residential schools for children of the economically weaker sections.

Named after former prime minister, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Atal Awasiya Vidyalayas are to be set up in each of the 18 divisions of the state. The students will be provided free education, residential facilities equipped with mess and other amenities in these schools that will be run on the lines of the Central government’s Navodaya Vidyalayas.

The schools will work to make the students self-reliant individuals as per their education and interest.