Minister for Human Resource Development Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Thursday said ‘swachchata’ did not mean a classroom lesson; it meant a way of living and went on to add that clean surroundings would translate into a healthy society.
Addressing a meeting organised to felicitate heads of schools that have been selected for national-level Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar, the Minister said education was a powerful tool to change the society and that, that explained why a lion’s share was allocated to this key sector in the State budget.
Making the best of technology, the State had embarked on a drive to transform traditional classrooms into digital and virtual spaces of learning. He said despite a deficit budget, funds to the tune of ₹25,000 crore had been allocated to the education sector as part of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s aspiration to groom Andhra Pradesh into a knowledge society.
He said children at a very young age should imbibe hygienic habits that will help them lead a healthy life. Pointing to the fact that last year, 21 schools from the State were selected for the national-level Swachh Vidyalaya award, and that the number of schools had increased to 40 this year, he said the remaining institutions should follow their example and join the list of the award recipients next year. This way, they could contribute towards creating a swachch Andhra Pradesh.
Commissioner of School Education K. Sandhya Rani, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan State Project Director G. Srinivasulu, UNICEF representative A. Venkatesh and others were present.
