Vijayawada: Education minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday met some central ministers and sought funds for the educational and industrial growth of Andhra Pradesh. Lokesh was on the second day of his Delhi visit and met education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, defence minister Rajnath Singh and heavy industries minister HD Kumaraswamy too.The AP minister met Dharmendra Pradhan at the latter’s residence and sought central support for strengthening the state’s academic system. Noting that the education ministers’ conclave in August would help discuss the key reforms being planned in the education system, Lokesh urged Pradhan to allow AP to host the all-India meet in August.He told Pradhan that the academic standards in Andhra Pradesh have touched rock bottom due to “misuse of funds” by the previous government and its “failure” in utilising the resources allocated by the Centre to the state.Lokesh sought an increase in the central funds allocation to AP for KGBVs, skill education, ICT-based learning and quality enhancement. Mentioning that the AP government was planning to strengthen primary education by setting up a model primary school at every panchayat, Lokesh pleaded that more budgetary allocations are needed from the Centre to the state.Informing Pradhan that the schools established under PM SHRI scheme have made excellent progress, Lokesh said the demand for such schools was increasing. Of the 2,369 schools proposed under Phase 1 and 2 of the PM SHRI scheme, only 855 have been sanctioned, he said and pleaded for sanction of the remaining 1,514 schools under Phase-3.In an appeal for massive central assistance for the progress of high schools under the Purvodaya scheme, he sought a sanction of Rs.3,229 crore for improving basic amenities on universities campuses, Rs.555 crore for construction of buildings for 37 government colleges and another Rs.330 crore for improving the infrastructure in the existing degree colleges.Lokesh also sought funds for various other works in the educational institutions in different districts.Stating that large-scale employment opportunities would be provided to the youth in Andhra Pradesh once the ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel factory was established at Anakapalle, Lokesh made an appeal to the Union heavy industries minister, HD Kumaraswamy, to give his nod for the plant. Thanking Kumaraswamy profusely for releasing nearly Rs.12,000 crore for the revival of the Visakha Steel Plant, Lokesh said that the funds were given with a generous heart.Lokesh explained to defence minister Rajnath Singh details of the developmental activities undertaken by the present AP government. He urged Singh to set up a defence cluster in Andhra Pradesh and sought the Centre’s cooperation to establish some units in the state against the backdrop of huge investments in the defence sector.
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