Civil society organisations working for the revival of Education sector in Telangana holding a round table meeting to discuss the issue and to demand allocation of at least 15% of the State budget this financial year to make significant improvements in educational infrastructure, in Hyderabad on Friday
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
Days ahead of the Telangana Budget, three civil society organisations have come forward to demand that the Education budget be brought to 15% of the total outlay. “The Congress government is violating the promise made in the party manifesto about raising the Education budget to 15%. A backward State like Bihar is allocating 18% of its budget for Education. Other States are also allocating more. The TRS government reduced the allocation from 14 to 7%. The Congress is also going the same way,” said Laxminarayana of Social Democratic Forum at a round table conference organised to raise the issue at Press Club on Friday.
“After the formation of Telangana we did a 30-day yatra to raise awareness about the possibilities for the new State. They have been defeated. We don’t just want education, but we want good education for our future generations. That can happen with more investment in education,” said Haragopal of Save Education, one of the civil society organisations demanding higher outlay for the sector.
“Without sufficient outlay for health and education what is the use of 3rd rank in country in terms of GSDP?” asked D. Narasimha Reddy rhetorically. “Follow Bihar and learn from it. What we are doing to the poor people in the State is treachery by depriving them of good education. Let’s begin with 15% outlay but that is also not sufficient,” said Mr. Reddy.
“We were a surplus State and we thought education and health would get priority if Telangana is formed. Those hopes have been dashed. The earlier government did not let us speak. At least this government is allowing us to speak. But that is not enough. We fought for education and health and we should be prepared for another agitation if 15% outlay is not made for the Education sector,” said Rama Melkote who earlier taught in Osmania University.
Published – January 24, 2025 08:14 PM is
