HYDERABAD: Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday announced a sanction of `25 lakh for a solar water heater, inverter, and additional lab rooms for the Telangana Social Welfare Residential School and College in Mahendra Hills here on Saturday, where he had lunch along with students to mark the launch of the new diet plan. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring quality food and holistic welfare for students in government hostels and residential schools. Uttam Kumar Reddy was accompanied by Secunderabad Cantonment MLA Sriganesh. For the inaugural day, the lunch menu included chicken and the minister said this symbolised the government’s commitment to providing balanced, nutritious, and enjoyable meals for students. He said the government’s initiative aimed to standardise food preparation, storage, and dining practices to ensure consistent quality, reduce contamination risks, and provide safe, nutritious meals. Uttam Kumar Reddy also highlighted the Congress government’s long-term vision to empower the eight lakh students in state-run hostels and residential schools through improved nutrition, quality education, and safe living conditions. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that fine rice would be supplied to all government schools and hostels starting January. He said Phase 1 of the government’s flagship Young India Integrated Residential School Complexes project, will see 28 school complexes, with another 26 planned for Phase II. He noted that the government had enhanced diet charges by 40 per cent — the first time it was increased in eight years — and raised cosmetic charges by over 200 per cent for the first time in 16 years. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress government had recruited over 11,000 teachers and was planning to issue another DSC notification to recruit 6,000 more teachers. He stressed that the government is committed to ensuring students in residential schools qualify for admissions to IITs, MBBS, and other professional courses, empowering them to prosper in life. Cantonment MLA Sriganesh praised the Congress government’s efforts to improve the standard of education and nutrition in residential schools, noting the introduction of a uniform diet menu for all students, irrespective of caste, as a significant step forward. At the launch event, a handbook on standard operating procedures for the programme was unveiled, and students, parents, and officials participated in cultural programmes and interactive sessions.
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