VIJAYAWADA: Jana Sena political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar has urged the state government to disclose details of a survey carried out on the gross enrolment ratio of students in AP schools.
He expressed concern over the “death of 62,754 students aged between five and 18” and called for the release of a white paper on their deaths.
Addressing the media at Tenali in Guntur district, the Jana Sena leader quoted a survey in August about the academic year of 2021-22 up to August 2023. He said 62,754 students died -- of which 10,545 were in East Godavari, 6,422 in Guntur, 4,165 in Anantapur and 3,283 in Kurnool. Some 3.88 lakh students were found to be school dropouts while 2.29 lakh students went missing, as per the survey, he said.
He said the survey was conducted by the education department, involving 13,676 village volunteers and 15,004 ward volunteers.
Referring to the state government’s claim of spending huge amounts of ₹16,000 crores for Nadu-Nadu, ₹19,417 crores for Amma Vodi, ₹11,717 crores for Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, ₹1,824 crores for mid-day meal and ₹86 crores for Ragi malt with a 50 per cent share from the Satya Sai Trust, he asked the government, if so, why so many students died.
He felt the need to conduct health camps in schools in rural and tribal areas to enhance the protection of girls in hostels and provide better healthcare to the students.
He also asked whether any inquiry was held to find out the whereabouts of the missing students and demanded an apology from the CM to the parents of such students.
