CM Jagan Mohan Reddy hits out at Naidu for maligning Andhra Pradesh’s image in Parliament

Releases ₹1,024-crore second installment of Vasathi Deevena to 10.68 lakh students

Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday hit out at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president Nara Chandrababu Naidu for allowing his MPs to twist facts related to Andhra Pradesh and malign the image of the State in Parliament, and advised him to cooperate with the ruling party like Opposition parties in other States do for the development of their State.

Calling upon people to continue their unstinted belief in his capability to protect the interests of the State and their welfare, Mr. Reddy reminded people of his promise as an Opposition leader way back in 2017 to create 13 new districts when he came to power. His speech was preceded by a short video clipping of the 2017 Nandyal byelection campaign from the SPG Grounds in the town. Referring to the promise, Mr. Reddy said: “Unlike Mr. Naidu, who failed to keep most of the majority of his electoral promises, I am here to tell you that I have kept my word.” 

Releasing ₹1,024 crore the second tranche of the Jagananna Vasathi Deevena financial assistance (Boarding and Lodging Charges) to 10,68,150 students, the Chief Minister detailed the drastic reforms that were undertaken in three years, which had resulted in an 8.64% increase in the Gross Enrolment Ration for the higher studies and reverse migration of seven lakh school children from private schools to government schools. During the TDP rule in 2018-19 the GER was 32.4% and that jumped to 41.04% in 2019-20 and dropouts in schools were reduced with enrolment increasing from 37 lakh to 44.30 lakh. 

Addressing mothers of all children who had got Jagananna Vasathi Deevena, he said: “I am here as your elder brother, who will take care of studies of all your children and not limited to one per family.” He said the government has been continuously improving the school environment through Nadu-Nedu and Gorumudda to ensure good health and education in addition to introducing bi-lingual textbooks for the students to learn English. At  the college level, he said the focus was on skill development through a tie-up with Microsoft, and an internship was made compulsory.

The TDP government had not paid ₹1,780 crore of free reimbursement amount, which the present government had to clear, he pointed out while dishing out figures on how much was spent in the last three years on education. District Collector Manazir Jeelani Samoon welcomed the gathering, while Nandyal MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Kishore also spoke thanking the CM for making Nandyal a district and seeking some more assistance for projects in the district. Former Minister Gummanur Jayaram and other MLAs from the district were present.