Govt committed to provide quality edn, healthcare

Hyderabad: State government has proposed to start 119 residential schools for Backward Classes for 2019-20 fiscal.Presenting Vote On Account budget in the State Assembly here on Friday, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said, his government firmly believed in the improvement the quality of life would be possible only when quality education and medical facilities are provided to one and all. Hence his government is giving top priority for both the sectors, he added. 

He said under the free KG to PG education, his government has established 542 residential schools for SCs, STs, BCs and minority communities as against a mere 292 such schools prior to the formation of Telangana State. Similarly, the facilities at the schools had also been improved significantly He further said the government had also started 51-degree colleges for SCs and ST girl students. 

He said the government is spending on an average Rs 1 lakh per student annually by providing good food, accommodation and providing other facilities. Besides, all the eligible students from the State are provided Rs 20 lakh financial assistance to pursue higher studies abroad.State Health Minister Eatala Rajender presented the budget in State Legislative Council.

Meanwhile, Telangana Progressive Teachers Federation (TPTF) criticised the State government for making negligible allocation for education. The allocation to the education sector comes to a mere 6.7 per cent of the total budget estimates for 2019-20 fiscal, he said. Telangana Parents Association (TPA) said it is a least budgetary allocation made to the education sector among the South Indian States. 

TPA State president N Narayana said about 22,000 Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad and the government schools will continue to suffer from lack of basic facilities on account of shortage of funds. Meagre budgetary support will give a boost to the private schools gaining ground.