Latest news with #ThallikiVandanam
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
All REsources to be utilised to develop district: Atchanna
Parvathipuram: Andhra Pradesh minister K Atchannaidu emphasised the need to utilize all available resources to drive development in Parvathipuram Manyam district during the 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' programme held on Friday. The district was the first in the state to conduct this initiative, marking a significant step toward progress. Addressing the gathering, Atchannaidu noted that the state faced multiple crises over the past five years, with collapsed systems and a weakened financial status. He highlighted that the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth was 15 per cent between 2014-19 and 12.94 per cent in 2023-24, but only 8-9 per cent in the last five years. In contrast, Parvathipuram Manyam achieved an impressive 16.90 per cent GSDP growth in 2024-25, despite having only 50 per cent of its employee strength. The minister stated that the state government has stabilised over the past year, moving from a critical state to recovery. Key initiatives include the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, benefiting 65 lakh people with an annual expenditure of Rs. 34,000 crore, the reopening of Anna Canteens, and cylinder distribution under the Deepam scheme. Under the Thalliki Vandanam scheme, Rs 8,700 crore was deposited into the accounts of 67 lakh mothers, a historic achievement. Atchannaidu outlined plans for economic growth, including establishing food processing units through public-private partnerships. He also addressed long-pending issues like Janjhavathi and Kotia, promising resolution. The state has sanctioned medical colleges under a public-private partnership model and aims to resolve revenue grievances within a year. The minister highlighted the district's potential for tourism development and instructed forest officials to support related initiatives. Women, child, and tribal welfare minister Gummidi Sandhya Rani noted significant developmental works undertaken in the past year. District collector A Shyam Prasad presented a detailed report on achievements and future targets. The meeting resolved that no employee transfers would occur without replacements. As part of the programme, Atchannaidu distributed seeds to farmers, electric stoves and utensils to Anganwadi centers, and solar power equipment, reinforcing the government's commitment to grassroots development.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Free seat hopes dashed as pvt. schools step back citing fee reimbursement dues
Kottupalli Anand, a resident of Reddypalem in Guntur district, was overjoyed when he received a message from the School Education Department stating that his five-and-a-half-year-old daughter Dhianshi had been selected for admission in a corporate school for free education under Section 12(1)(C) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The provision mandates private unaided schools to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for children from economically weaker sections, with the government covering the cost. However, Mr. Anand's happiness was short-lived. The school management refused to admit his daughter citing non-payment of fee reimbursements by the government. The school authorities claimed they were unable to sustain RTE admissions without timely support from the State. Parents forced to pay A distressed Anand approached the Mandal Education Officer (MEO) for help and following his intervention, the school reluctantly agreed to admit Dhianshi, but only on the condition that Mr. Anand pay ₹15,000 for books and uniform, and an additional ₹10,000 for other activities. Citing his modest background, Mr. Anand expressed his anguish over being forced to pay out of pocket for what is meant to be a free and compulsory education under the law. 'We were so happy when we got the message. Now we are left with anxiety and pressure to arrange the money,' he says, speaking to The Hindu. What started as a moment of joy soon turned into frustration for many parents with school managements either denying admission or demanding payment of full or partial fees. Baburao Mandala, a resident of Gollapudi in NTR district, is among the affected parents. His six-year-old daughter Varshita Vinanya was allotted a seat in a reputed private school in the first phase of selection of students for admissions under the RTE quota. But he, along with six other families, was turned away by the school management citing 'ongoing discussions with the government' and that they would be informed about the decision later. 'The schools reopened on June 12 and since then we've been running from pillar to post for our children's admissions,' laments Mr. Baburao informing that many parents are now withdrawing from the scheme and enrolling their children in more affordable institutions. 'I may have to do the same,' he adds, disheartened. Parents in a similar situation regret that they have been left out of the purview of the 'Thalli ki Vandanam' scheme, a government initiative that provides financial aid to school-going children. 'We gave that up, assuming we wouldn't need it since our daughter has been selected for free education in a corporate school. Now we're stuck with no support,' says Mr. Baburao. Bone of contention The stalemate over implementation of the initiative continues with the private school management associations insisting on proper implementation of the Act. They say they are not against Section 12 (1) (C) but want the government to implement Section 12 (2) of the Act as well by determining the per child expenditure (PCE) incurred by the State government and reimburse either the school fee or the PCE, whichever is lower. The bone of contention is the PCE finalised by the government, dismissed as 'too little' by the school managements. Some of the school authorities have also raised the issues of irregularities in the admission process alleging cases of incorrect date of birth entries, misuse of caste, sibling and orphan categories and multiple applications. They also allege violation of the 'Neighbourhood Rule' under which children must first be allotted to private schools located within 1 km radius of their residence and only after all available seats in all schools within 1 km (including government) are filled, can children be allotted to schools located between 1 and 3 km distance. Pointing out that payment of fee reimbursement is pending for last three years, the private school managements categorically say they will withhold all admissions till the government addresses the issues raised by them. Officials react Officials of the Samagra Shiksha, which is handling the admission process, meanwhile, say this academic year, the number of admissions under RTE may cross 20,000. 'We have given serious instructions to private school managements to comply with the admission process and have issued show cause notices to some of them. We have also directed the District Education Officers and Regional Joint Directors to complete final admission confirmations by June 29, 2025,' maintains Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Double-engine government has become a double burden on A.P., says CPI(M)
CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao launched a scathing attack on the NDA government's first year in office, calling it a 'year of upside-down governance' that has burdened common people while benefiting corporates. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the double-engine government had failed to deliver on the promises and was instead running a 'double-burden government'. Key welfare schemes were neglected during the last one year. The govenrment has failed in ensuring the minimum wages and remunerative prices for farmers, and imposed a heavy burden on the people in the form of electricity bills, taxes, and administrative confusion. 'Despite claiming ₹9.4 lakh crore in investments through MoUs, there is no clarity on the industries or jobs generated,' he alleged. Mr. Srinivasa Rao criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for 'promoting outdated economic models' like GDP, ignoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) laid out by the United Nations. Andhra Pradesh ranks 10th among the States on SDG performance. Real development is not GDP alone, but sustainable and inclusive progress. Corporations are being favoured at the cost of workers and the unorganised sector, pointing to stagnant wages for 50 lakh workers and plummeting agricultural prices despite rising market rates. 'Even as ITC shares soar, tobacco farmers are denied fair prices,' he said. Referring to social welfare, the CPI(M) leader alleged irregularities in the 'Thalliki Vandanam' scheme and questioned the delay in delivering schemes such as Annadata Sukhibhava, unemployment allowance, and Stree Shakti funds. Referring to the issue of smart meters, he said that common people were being made to pay exorbitant bill amounts and urged the government to clarify whether it would continue legal cases filed by its own Ministers when they were in the opposition. Criticising the CM's governance style, he pointed to contradictions between statements made at TDP's Mahanadu and the so-called good governance meetings.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Stage dharna demanding wage hike, withdrawal of FRS system and others
Tirupati: Anganwadi workers staged a dharna at the Collectorate here on Monday, insisting the government to fulfil their demands. Speaking on the occasion, CITU district secretary Kandarapu Murali, AP Anganwadi Worker and Helpers Union district president Padma Leela and secretary Vani Sree criticised the government for its apathy in solving the long pending demands of Anganwadi workers. They pointed out that the NDA alliance parties, at the time of election, assured to concede Anganwadi workers' demands, but failed to fulfil them even after completing one year in power. Murali warned that Anganwadi workers union will launch historic struggle if the alliance government failed to concede the demands. He said the coalition government is acting in an irresponsible manner in solving the problems of government employees. TDP, BJP and JSP alliance made it as their practice to evade the issues of the employees including Anganwadi workers, he criticised. Anganwadi Workers Union president Padma Leela and secretary Vani Sree said their pending demands include extending government welfare schemes like house sites, Thalliki Vandanam etc to Anganwadi workers also, increasing the monthly salary, upgrading many mini centres into main centres and withdraw the FRS (Face Recognition System).
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
YSRCP launches ‘yuvatha poru'
Visakhapatnam: Flagging failures of the coalition government, YSRCP launches 'yuvatha poru' protests and submits representations at all Collectorates on June 23, informed former IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath. Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Gudivada Amarnath said the coalition government is resorting to diversion politics as it failed to implement poll promises, especially creation of jobs and provision of Rs 3,000 allowance to the unemployed youth after it came to power. The youth wing of the party will hold protests at all District Collector offices, Amarnath mentioned. 'People are not prepared to trust Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as he is resorting to diversion politics to avoid fulfilling promises made like his earlier tenures,' Amarnath criticised, adding the Thalliki Vandanam scheme has been diluted. Talking about International Yoga Day celebrations, Amarnath pointed out that the government spent Rs.300 crore on IYD for publicity, causing great inconvenience to students, women and public. 'Tribal students were mobilised to the venue the previous day without proper care and they faced serious hardship,' Amarnath lamented. The event was conducted with an aim of entering the Guinness Book of Records, while Naidu already holds a record for cheating people across four terms as Chief Minister, Amarnath alleged. While Naidu mobilises funds for Amaravati, Amarnath said, North Andhra remains completely neglected but used for the CM's publicity stunts. 'It was only during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure North Andhra witnessed real development,' he reiterated, appealing to people to make the 'yuvatha poru' a success.
