Vijayawada:Principal Secretary for Education, Kona Sasidhar, announced that the state government is organising a Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) across 45,094 schools on December 7 to boost standards in government schools through parental participation. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and HRD minister Nara Lokesh will attend the event at Bapatla Municipal High School.At a press conference in Velagapudi, Sasidhar urged alumni, parents, and community leaders to join the event, which is designed to promote government schools over private institutions. The initiative will include a 0–5-star rating system for schools, aiming for progressive annual improvements.More than 35.8 lakh students, 71.6 lakh parents, 1.88 lakh teachers, and 50,000 public representatives are expected to participate statewide. The event will also feature activities like rangoli competitions for mothers and tug-of-war for fathers, followed by discussions led by headmasters to gather suggestions for school development. Director of School Education V Vijaya Rama Raju and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan State Project Director B Srinivasa Rao were present at the briefing. Govt to procure every grain of paddy within 24 hours: Nadendla ManoharVijayawada: Minister of civil supplies, food and consumer affairs Nadendla Manohar assured that the state government would procure every grain of paddy from farmers, urging them not to fall into the trap of middlemen and sell their produce at lower prices. He further assured that the government would credit payments into farmers’ bank accounts within 24 hours after purchasing the crop. Manohar, along with Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad, visited Patha Majeru, Mangalapuram, Challapalli, Kasanagaram, Pedaprolu and Lankapalli villages in Challapalli and Ghantasala mandals to inspect the paddy produce that was spread along roadsides and in paddy grounds for drying in the Avanigadda constituency on Wednesday.On the occasion, the minister has enquired with the farmers about the issues they were facing in selling paddy at procurement centres. The civil supplies minister has instructed the officials concerned to procure all the paddy produce, irrespective of its moisture content, considering the inclement weather conditions.The minister further directed the officials to ensure that the paddy readied by farmers is procured by evening.Later in the day, Manohar reviewed the paddy procurement progress in the Krishna district with the agriculture and revenue department officials.Addressing the media, Manohar said the government has set a target to procure nine lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers this season in the district and procured more than 1.24 lakh metric tonnes within two days after commencing the paddy procurement from farmers in the district.Manohar said the government is ensuring that the paddy procurement is held on a transparent note and farmers get minimum support price (MSP) for their crop produce. He explained that the government is paying Rs 1,725 per quintal and ensuring that the farmers get MSP for their produce.He further appealed to the rice millers to ensure that the farmers do not face any hiccups when they approach them with their paddy. He warned of blacklisting the millers if they found committing regularities.Manohar also warned that criminal cases would be booked against middlemen for cheating farmers and procuring crop produce at lower prices.
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