AP CM credits Rs. 6,595 cr under Amma Vodi

Srikakulam: Brushing aside Opposition criticism over State reforms in the education sector mainly involving edutech giant Byju's for online teaching in government schools to improve quality of education, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday said that his government spent over Rs 52,600 crore in the past three years on various welfare schemes and developmental activities.

Releasing Jagananna Amma Vodi for the third consecutive year, directly crediting Rs 6,595 crore into the accounts of 43.96 lakh mothers, the Chief Minister said here that the government had spent about Rs 19,618 crore on Amma Vodi for the past three years. He also expressed concern over the 51,000 mothers who couldn't avail the scheme as their children were not able to meet the scheme parameter of having 75 per cent attendance.

He observed that the condition was relaxed in the first year and was exempted in the second year due to Covid. As the schools started to function normally, attendance was taken into consideration to see to it that the intended purpose of incentivizing mothers for sending their children to school was not defeated.

The Chief Minister said that the government is crediting Rs 13,000 to the beneficiaries' account and the remaining Rs 2,000 will be credited to the TMF (Toilet Maintenance Fund) and SMF (School Maintenance Fund), which will be used for the maintenance of toilets and repair works in government schools.

He slammed the Opposition parties for criticism of the deduction and questioned whether any party had ever provided financial aid to mothers for sending their children to school. Many revolutionary changes were brought in the education sector to impart quality education to students preparing them to face the competitive world.

Reddy said the government made a pact with Byju's to guide the students with CBSE content free of cost, while those studying in private schools have to pay Rs 24,000 per year.