The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to raise funds from donors, both national and international, as it urgently requires over Rs 6,300 crore to improve infrastructures in schools for implementing the National Education Policy-2020. The government plans to launch the infrastructure building programme this year so as to complete it by the year 2024.
There are 44,519 government schools in Andhra Pradesh with 66,846 rooms at present.
The government also requires a School Maintenance Fund of Rs 450 crore per annum but the amount is being deducted from the beneficiaries of Ammavodi freebie scheme at the rate of Rs 1,000 each.
Under Ammavodi, the government has been paying Rs 15,000 each annually to about 44.5 lakh mothers for sending their kids to school. Since last year, the government has been crediting only Rs 14,000 each into the mothers’ accounts while retaining the balance for school maintenance. While that takes care of the maintenance part, no money is available with the state government for new infrastructure development.
The government is seeking for foreign donors, particularly multinational corporations and trusts run by businessmen, who have been funding other programmes in the country.
