Visakhapatnam: A similar scheme as Y.S. Jagan’s Amma Vodi was implemented by the British in 1913 in Vizag. From the last couple of years, YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan’s has announced Rs 15,000 for parents who send their children to school, after his government is form-ed. Following Mr Jagan, TD supremo Chandrababu Naidu promised Rs 18,000 for the same.
Here in AP, promises are made in the backdrop of elections. But the British had offered Rs 15 every month in 1913 to child widows who joined school.
A magazine from the British Library, London, reveals that this was implemented in Vizag and the school that was opened for child widows is still running as a girls’ high school.
The Queens Mary’s Girls High School in Vizag was established in 1913 by the British, exclusively for child widows to help them educated. The school paid Rs 15 per month to those who joined. Rs15 is a small value now, but in 1913 it was a huge amount and was paid towards food for the students.
The report also shows that this scheme yielded positive results and soon other girls also began joining the school. The report says, “The school was first begun on March 1, 1913, for Hindu child widows. For every girl, Rs 15 was paid for their food expenses. The school was first begun till the third class with two or three te-achers. Within six to seven months, the school was upgraded till the sixth standard. In a few more months, the science section was also added. The then inspector Srinivasamma established a hostel. The school did well with 200 students till date. In 1930 about 8 girls passed the S.S.L.C examination.”
Heritage enthusiast Edward Paul is a retired en-gineer for Engineers of India Ltd. He found this in the British Library in London. He said, “I was searching for a file and I came across the Queen Mary’s school magazine that was published in 1931.”
