Vijayawada: AP government extended incentives and issued certificates to meritorious SSC and intermediate students of social and tribal welfare hostels and gurukuls, and hostels.
Social Welfare Minister Dr. Dola Veeranjaneya Swamy and Tribal Welfare Minister Gummidi Sandhyarani felicitated the meritorious students at a grand programme held at Tummalapalle Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Veeranjaneya Swamy underlined that Rs 143 crore have been spent on upgrading hostels and basic amenities, including increasing NEET coaching centres to 10 across the state. He also announced future plans, such as distribution of quality rice meals, doctors to check up students of hostels and gurukuls, and the revival of the Ambedkar Overseas Education Fund Scheme.
Minister Sandhyarani announced that 315 meritorious students from Class 10 and intermediate have been felicitated. 34 of them received cash awards of Rs 20,000 as first prize, Rs 15,000 as second and Rs 10,000 as third prize.
Sandhyarani provided key data, noting that 2.36 lakh students are studying in 551 ashram schools, 1,958 tribal primary schools and 199 residential schools across the state. She explained that so far, Rs 81.29 crores have been allocated under tuition fee reimbursement and Rs 100 crores under maintenance.
The minister explained that 6,722 students from ashram schools and 3,766 from gurukuls passed the Class 10 exams. 44 ashram schools and 12 gurukuls recorded a 100 per cent pass rate. Of the 4,317 intermediate second-year students, 3,958 passed, achieving a 91 per cent pass rate in Gurukuls, well above the state average of 83 per cent.
Sandhyarani underlined that 81 of the hostel and gurukul students have qualified in IIT Advance, with 25 of them likely to secure seats in IITs and 50 having strong prospects of succeeding in NEET.
Those present included principal secretary M.M. Nayak, Social Welfare secretary V. Prasanna Venkatesh, director Lavanya Veni, Tribal Welfare secretary G. Gauthami and director S. Bhargavi, apart from parents, teachers and wardens.
