BJP Legislative Party leader Maheshwar Reddy has questioned the Telangana government about the number of schools currently operating in the state compared to 2014. He raised this issue during the ongoing budget session in the State Assembly on Tuesday. He suggested that a simple verification could show how many schools have been shut down over the years.
Reddy also pointed out that the Congress party had promised to allocate 15% of the budget for education, an increase from the previous 6%. However, the current allocation stands at only Rs 23,108 crore. He argued that to meet the promised 15% target, the Telangana government would need to allocate over Rs 40,000 crore.
Additionally, he questioned why the government had not yet established a fee regulatory committee, despite including it in the Congress party’s election manifesto. He also sought clarification from the concerned Minister regarding the status of fee reimbursement for students.
Expressing concern, Reddy criticized the government for prioritizing payments to large contractors while neglecting fee reimbursements for students. He also recalled recent incidents where students fell ill, and some even died due to food poisoning at a government school. The High Court has taken this matter seriously.
Furthermore, he accused the government of failing to address the financial benefits owed to government teachers. He highlighted issues such as pending allowances from the Pay Revision Commission (PRC), leave encashment, and compensation for retired employees, with arrears reportedly amounting to around Rs 8,000 crore. He demanded an explanation on when these payments would be cleared.
Reddy concluded by stating that the government is not allocating enough funds for basic facilities and infrastructure in government schools. He stressed that while many promises are made to improve the education system, the Minister must take responsibility and address these concerns.
