In a major relief to school students in habitations without schools, the State government has decided to arrange facilities for their transport to and from schools during the current academic year.
The programme is part of the Telangana Samagra Shiksha programme which is contemplated under the Telangana Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules 2010 framed for the implementation of the Right to Education Act. Accordingly, the government has decided to provide transport through vans/ autorickshaws for 20,012 children in 1,901 habitations which are without schools during the academic year 2019-20.
Of these, there were no primary schools in 461 habitations and 1,542 habitations which are devoid of upper primary schools. Among all districts, Khammam has the maximum of 160 habitations without schools followed by Bhadradri with 124, Siddipet with 123 and Warangal Rural at 117.
The School Education department has identified 4,393 primary school students and 15,619 studying in upper primary classes, taking the total to 20,012, as eligible for the benefit.
Estimated cost
According to the orders issued by the department on Saturday, the government has estimated the cost of transport at ₹6,000 per child a year. This would accordingly take the total amount involved in ensuring the facility to ₹12 crore per annum.
