Promising to convert all SC/ST hostels into residential hostels in phases, Social Welfare Minister R. Kishore Babu on Monday exhorted SC/ST students to emulate 13-year-old tribal student Malavath Purna, who did the nation proud by becoming the youngest girl in the world to scale the Mount Everest.
Launching the Chandranna Samkshema Palana Programme at the Mini-stadium grounds here, he said “Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wants to lay a strong foundation for the SC/ST students by providing corporate education through residential schools so that each and every student can make a mark in their chosen field like Purna.” First in a series of model residential schools would be set up at a cost of Rs. 25 crore with computers and other facilities shortly to hone the skills of SC/ST students, he said, adding that the State would also take full responsibility for these students to pursue higher education within the country and abroad.
He said the government targeted to develop at least one lakh industrialists through, among other schemes, the Venture capital scheme, Entrepreneur Development Scheme and the Credit Guarantee Scheme, by roping in the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the government was committed to develop the State and overcome all hurdles that had cropped up in the wake of haphazard division of the State.
