Govt to start 100 Morarji Desai schools - Sorake

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 9. 2014: Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said the government has decided to open 100 additional Morarji Desai schools during the current academic year in State in order to encourage education among scheduled castes and tribal communities. 

In his address after inaugurating the Mahrshi Valmiki Jayanti celebrations, the minister said the government has also doubled the amount of funds released for scheduled tribes in accordance with the population.

He said Rs 4,215 crore is released during current fiscal year. He said the government has also introduced ‘Vidyasiri’ programme, to ensure educational facilities for the students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribe communities. As many as 50,000 students will receive Rs 1,500 and Rs 1.50 lakh is earmarked for the purpose and the amount will be directly credited to their respective accounts, he said.

Delivering the talk on the topic ‘Life and Personality of Mahrshi Valmiki,’ Kannada lecturer from Government Pre University College, Brahmavar, Surendra Shetty Thekkatte said that the ignorance of the Koragas has led to the backwardness of the community. He lamented that Koragas are struggling to get small piece of land, even though they are the original inhabitants of this area. The situation exemplifies their pathetic condition and is the tragedy of the society. He stressed that there is urgent need of economic and educational empowerment of the community to bring them to the mainstream of the society.

The beneficiaries were handed title deeds on the occasion. The meritorious students from SSLC and PUC belonging to scheduled tribe community were felicitated.