AMARAVATI: The social welfare department is readying a plan to develop all hostels, ashram schools in the state.
The department has decided to raise funds from state, central agencies besides making use of sub-plan funds. Social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna has directed the officials from the department to coordinate with the engineering departments for early completion of the planned works.
“We should make full utilization of funds granted under Nadu-Nedu, SC-Sub-Plan and central government grants for upgradation of ashram schools and colleges,” said Nagarjuna.
The minister directed the officials not to allow the funds under SC sub-plan go unspent at the end of the financial year. He explained that the government had spared about 15,000 crore under SC Sub-plan in 2020-21 which was increased to 15,735 crore by 2021-22. He said that the SC sub-plan grant was increased to 17,403 crore by 2022-23. He added that the plans should be readied in a fool-proof manner to utilize the funds without delay.
He wanted that priority should be given to the renovation of social welfare hostels and ashram schools. The minister directed the officials that no hostel should remain in private buildings. He said that the existing hostels should also be readied with complete infrastructure to suit the requirements of the inmates.
The minister directed the officials of Andhra Pradesh Education Welfare Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APEWICL) to spare special teams to exclusively take care of the works in the social welfare department.
