AP Budget: Big boost to education sector

Vijayawada: The State government allocated Rs 22,604 crore to Education Department in the Budget for the financial year 2020-21.

A sum of Rs 13,124 crore was allocated for teaching grants, Rs 3,000 crore for Naadu-Nedu schemes aimed at development of infrastructure facilities in more than 40,000 government schools in three phases, Rs 1,937 crore for Samagra Shiksha scheme, Rs 974 crore for Jagananna Gorumudda scheme (Mid-day meals), Rs 500 crore for Jagananna Vidya Kanuka and Rs 493.84 crore for government junior colleges.

A total of Rs 242.50 crore has been allocated for Rashtriya Madhyamika Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Rs 55.15 crore for government schools, Rs 10.54 crore for Pratibha scholarships, Rs.1633.65 crore for residential institutions and Rs.632.09 crore other schemes. Finance Minister B Rajendranath Reddy presented the State budget for the financial year 2020-21 in the State Assembly at Velagapudi on Tuesday.

Naadu-Nedu, the prestigious scheme, launched by the State government in the first year of coming to power will be a big boon to the government schools as the State government allotted Rs 3,000 crore in 2020-21 for the development of infrastructure facilities like toilets, compound walls, additional class rooms, providing drinking water facility and development of play grounds etc. The State government has decided to develop over 40,000 schools in three years in three phases.

The first phase works are underway in the State. The Education Department selected one third schools in the first phase and works are expected to be completed soon. The District Collectors are closely monitoring the Naadu-Nedu scheme and regularly conducting review meetings.

Jagananna Vidya Kanuka is for the distribution of scholarships to the college students and Jaganna Gorumudda for the midday meals for school and Intermediate students. The Centre and State are jointly sponsoring the midday meals for which the State government has revised the menu and eggs are part of menu for five days in a week.

Compared to the previous year revised estimates, the allocation for education increased by 31 per cent for 2020-21. The allocation for education in the 2019-20 revised estimates was Rs 17,971 crore and now increased to Rs 22,604 crore.

Budget allocations for various sectors

♦    Rs 11,891 cr for the agriculture sector

♦    Rs 11,419 cr for the health sector

♦    Rs 22,604 cr for the education sector,

♦    Rs 3,000 cr to be spent on 'Naadu-Nedu' school infrastructure

♦    Rs 2,100 cr for YSR Aarogyasri scheme; Rs 1528 cr for Naadu-Nedu in the health

♦    Rs 500 cr for 'creation of essential infrastructure for new capital city'

♦    Rs 300 cr for developing Smart Cities

♦    Rs 1,279.78 cr for the development of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sector

♦    Rs 8,000 cr for 30 lakh house site pattas

♦    Rs 1,365.08 cr for of (YSR zero interest scheme) for women SHGs

♦    Rs 16,000 cr for YSR Pensions.

♦    Rs 6,000 cr for the Jagananna Amma Vodi scheme

♦    Rs 3,000 cr for the YSR Cheyutha scheme

♦    Rs 3,691.79 cr for the Housing sector

♦    Rs 5,988.72 cr for Home department

♦    Rs 11,805.74 cr for Irrigation department

♦    Rs 696.62 cr for Investments and Infrastructure sector

♦    Rs 197.37 cr for the Information Technology sector

♦    Rs 601.37 cr for the welfare of labour in the state

♦    Rs 1,6710.34 cr for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development

♦    Rs 8,150.24 cr for Municipal Urban Development

♦    Rs 856.64 cr for Skill Development

♦    Rs 3,520.85 cr for Civil Supplies Department

♦    Rs 50,703 cr for Financial sector

♦    Rs 6,984.72 cr for the power sector

♦    Rs 22,604.01 cr for Primary Higher Education

♦    Rs 12,465.85 cr for social welfare

♦    Rs 6,588.58 cr for Transport, Roads and Buildings

♦    Rs 3456.02 cr for Women, Children, Physically challenged,

Elderly people

♦    Rs 2,055.63 cr for Minority welfare

♦    Rs 515.87 cr for Planning sector

♦    Rs 457.32 cr for Environment and Forest department

♦    Rs 878.01 cr for General Administration

♦    Rs 15,735 cr for SC welfare

♦    Rs 5,177.54 cr for Tribal Welfare

♦    Rs 2,846.47 cr for Kapu Welfare

♦    Rs 425.93 cr for free electricity to SC, ST houses

♦    Rs 470.29 cr for 104, 108 vehicle services

Scheme-wise allocations 

♦    YSR Sampoorna Poshana Scheme: `1500 cr

♦    DWCRA Women Zero Interest Scheme: `1365.08 cr

♦    YSR Pension Kanuka: `16,000 cr

♦    Jagananna Amma Vodi Scheme: `6,000 cr

♦    YSR Cheyutha scheme: `6,300 cr

♦    YSR Asara Scheme: `6,300 cr

♦    YSR Vahana Mitra: `275.52 cr

♦    YSR Nethanna Nestham: `200 cr

♦    Jagananna Thodu Scheme: ` 930 cr

♦    Jagananna Chedodu Scheme: ` 247 cr

♦    Village and ward secretariat system: `46.46 cr

♦    Real-time Governance: `54.51 cr

♦    Agricultural Laboratories: `65 cr

♦    YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan scheme: `3,615.60 cr

♦    Dr. YSR free crop insurance scheme: `500 crs

♦    Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Vasathi Deevena: `2,277 cr

♦    Interest-free loans: `1,100 cr

Masks, physical distancing go for a toss

♦    Legislative Assembly held its sitting under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic as the Budget session began on Tuesday

♦    The government claimed that it was taking unprecedented measures like making special arrangements to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines to contain spread of Covid-19. Authorities said every seat in the Assembly and Council has been sanitised while health department had made arrangements to conduct Covid tests on those legislators who had not undergone the tests earlier, but surprisingly most of the members, ministers and even the Chief Minister were seen without a mask.

Finance minister Bugganna Rajendranath Reddy who presented the main budget and the agriculture minister Kannababu did not wear the masks

♦    The members were sitting as usual in their seats and no social distancing was followed. Even at the media point where they addressed the media against their party MP Raghuram Krishnam Raju, no member was wearing mask

♦    The interesting part of the Governor's speech is that while the state government is laying emphasis on making English compulsory as medium of education, the Governor read out his speech in Telugu saying "Desa bhashalandu Telugu lessa."

♦    Assembly Speaker chose to speak in English most of the time

♦    Though the issue of three capitals has been pending in High Court, the Governor's speech reiterated the government's decision to go in for administrative decentralisation.

♦    While in Lok Sabha, the Speaker while announcing the fate of the introduction of a bill says "Those in favour may say Ayes, those against may say Nos", in AP Assembly, the Speaker says, "Those in favour may say Ya, those who are against may say No."

♦    There was no reference of what government would do to achieve Special Category Status either in the Governor's speech or Budget speech