The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : New furniture for Government schools soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 25, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

New furniture for Government schools soon

By Our Staff Reporter

The Minister for School Education, N. Rajyalakshmi, having a helping of the food cooked for the mid-day meal scheme at Uppal on Thursday.

HYDERABAD, JUNE 24. All Government school buildings in the city can expect to have new furniture within three months as the process of identifying the suppliers has begun, according to the Minister for School Education, Nedurumalli Rajyalakshmi.

She said funds to the tune of Rs. 5 crores were ready and the tenders would be called soon for providing furniture covering 829 schools. "Schools having new furniture will be a reality within three months," she said. She was speaking to reporters here on Thursday after inspecting the Centralised Kitchen of Naandi Foundation that supplies food to all schools under the mid-day meal scheme.

Citing reasons for lack of proper buildings and facilities in Government schools, she blamed the previous TDP government for spending only Rs. 464.64 crores out of the allocated Rs. 1,073 crores for school education. "But we will keep our promises," she said. The Minister expressed satisfaction over the hygienic conditions and the preparation of tasty food at the kitchen. She went around the place and interacted with workers and later had the same food for breakfast.

She wanted philanthropists to involve themselves in the programme and with some donations more nutritious food could be supplied to children. "I will convene a meeting specially for this," she said. Replying to a question, she said uniform was not necessary and asked the officials not to insist on uniform as that might drive away some children from schools. Later, the Minister visited Government schools in Uppal and enquired with the children about supply of books and the mid-day meal scheme. She distributed pens and books to children who answered her questions. The Hyderabad DEO, Jagannadh Reddy, was present.

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