VIJAYAWADA: In a significant move aimed at uplifting the standards of education for tribal students, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Women and Child Development and Tribal Welfare, Gummadi Sandhya Rani, announced that the state government has sanctioned ₹113 crore for the comprehensive improvement of infrastructure in tribal schools.
The announcement underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring quality education and essential amenities reach students in the most remote areas of the state.
Bridging the Infrastructure Gap in 757 Schools
Minister Sandhya Rani stated that the massive fund will be utilized across 757 tribal schools located within the jurisdiction of the nine Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs).
The allocation is strategically divided to target different categories of residential schools:
- ₹83 crore has been earmarked for 558 tribal ashram schools.
- ₹30 crore will be channeled into 199 Gurukulam residential schools.
The primary focus of this investment is to strengthen basic amenities and create a conducive learning environment for the students. Key facilities that will be upgraded or installed include:
- Purified Drinking Water: Installation of RO water plants in every school.
- Sanitation: Construction and renovation of clean washrooms. Work is already underway on 2,012 new toilets through the Swachh Andhra Corporation.
- Communication: Following a directive from the Chief Minister, prepaid and coin-operated telephones are being installed in all hostels, ensuring students can communicate with their parents daily.
Focus on Quality and Human Resources
Beyond physical infrastructure, the Minister highlighted that the government has also addressed the crucial need for human resources in these institutions:
- Adequate Staff: The recruitment of over 16,000 teachers through the District Selection Committee (DSC) has ensured that all tribal schools are now fully equipped with teaching staff.
- Contract Teacher Retention: The services of 1,100 existing contract teachers are being continued, ensuring no disruption to education.
Uplifting Higher Education and Welfare
The Minister detailed several other welfare measures introduced to provide a holistic support system for the tribal community:
- Free Entrance Coaching: 150 meritorious tribal students are receiving free, intensive coaching for prestigious entrance exams like IIT, NIT, and NEET at specialized centers in Parvathipuram and Seethampeta, with plans to open another center in Visakhapatnam.
- Anganwadi Upgrades: Over 5,000 mini-Anganwadis have been upgraded to main Anganwadi centers, each now staffed with a teacher and an ayah (assistant).
- Economic Support: Funds have been sanctioned for cattle distribution (₹24 crore) and new loans through the Tribal Cooperative Finance Corporation (TRICOR) (₹20 crore) to support tribal livelihoods.
- Land Rights: Efforts are being expedited to distribute land titles to tribal communities engaged in podu (shifting) cultivation under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
It is worth noting that this latest sanction comes on the heels of ₹155 crore already spent on tribal school infrastructure development last year, solidifying the government’s sustained push for educational reform in tribal areas.
