In a move to bolster the image of students studying in Corporation schools, the Madurai Corporation has decided to provide identity cards to them from the coming academic year.
As many as 13,825 students from 65 Corporation schools in the city will be issued ID cards free of cost and a separate fund has been allocated for this purpose.
Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa announced this while presenting the Corporation’s annual budget for 2014-15 here on Thursday.
He said Rs.6 lakh had been allotted for issuing the ID cards. This move was widely welcomed by the councillors.
Basic amenities
Stepping up the focus on providing basic amenities to Corporation schools, Rs.2 crore had been allocated to purchase photocopy machines, computer printers, camera and fire extinguishers.
This year, Rs.8 crore had been allotted towards construction of new buildings in Corporation schools and for undertaking maintenance and repair works, he added.
“In some schools, we had provided solar lights and since they were found to be useful, steps have been initiated to install solar lights in all the Corporation schools,” the Mayor said.
With regard to upgrading Corporation healthcare facilities, the budget made a provision of Rs.50 lakh to set up operation theatres and improve the standard of treatment in two Corporation-run hospitals.
Mr.Rajan Chellappa also announced that all the 100 wards in the city would have a children’s park each.
Drinking water woes To overcome the shortage of drinking water supply in 72 wards, a detailed project report had been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs.247 crore and the proposal would be submitted to the State government.
If sanctioned, it would be taken up under the third Vaigai Water Supply Scheme, which fell under the second phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, he added.
C. Kathiravan, Corporation Commissioner who assumed charge on Wednesday, zonal chairmen, councillors and senior officials attended the budget session.
