Launch of new diet menu testament of State commitment to students’ future: Bhatti

Squarely blaming the previous BRS government for the ‘poor health’ of the students of the State-run (Gurukuls) residential educational institutions, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the Congress government cleared the mess bills that were kept pending for months together by the earlier BRS dispensation.

This is a testament to the Congress government’s commitment to the well-being of students and their bright future, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He was speaking after launching the new diet menu being implemented by the State government as per the increased diet charges for students of Telangana residential educational institutions at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule residential school at Bonakal in Khammam district on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Vikramarka lashed out at the previous BRS rulers accusing them of depriving the students of Gurukuls of quality food without releasing bills for years during their long tenure. The callous apathy of the BRS rulers had taken a toll on the health of students, he charged.

He said, “Those at the helm in the previous BRS regime are now shamelessly criticising the Congress government which increased diet charges by 40% and cosmetic charges by 200%.”

The previous BRS government provided only ₹70 crore in the Budget for the maintenance of residential schools and construction of buildings. But the Congress government allocated ₹5,000 crore in the Budget this year, he said.

The people’s government soon after coming to power appointed 11,000 teachers through DSC recruitment and another notification will be issued soon to fill up 6,000 more teacher posts, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He made it clear that the new diet menu should be provided to the students of all State-run residential schools (Gurukulas). Any compromise on quality will not be tolerated and stern action will be initiated, he warned.