Latest news with #NLokesh
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Minister Lokesh flags off five road cleaning vehicles
GUNTUR: In a significant push to upgrade urban infrastructure, Education Minister N Lokesh, on Monday flagged off five advanced civic vehicles aimed at improving sanitation and road maintenance in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC) limits. The launch is part of Lokesh's ambitious 100-day challenge to make Mangalagiri a pothole-free constituency. The fleet, valued at Rs 4.4 crore, was dispatched from the minister's residence in Undavalli. It comprises two refuse compactor vehicles, two mechanical sweeping machines, and one pothole repair unit. The compactors, each costing Rs 1.91 crore, are being introduced for the first time in AP, having previously operated in cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. These vehicles will streamline garbage transportation from local collection autos and tractors to central dumping yards. A Rs 1.48 crore pothole repair machine has been deployed to carry out real-time road patchwork, directly addressing a key civic concern. The mechanical sweepers, worth Rs 1.2 crore, are expected to enhance street cleanliness and overall sanitation standards. Lokesh urged officials to ensure timely, high-quality civic works. He stated that public complaints regarding potholes would be accepted via WhatsApp.
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister Lokesh lauds smooth conduct of DSC exam
VIJAYAWADA: HRD Minister N Lokesh lauded the smooth conduct of Mega DSC 2025 exam, a massive recruitment drive to fill 16,347 teacher posts in the State. In a post on X, Lokesh stated that the examination was conducted smoothly over 23 days, with 3.36 lakh candidates submitting 5.77 lakh applications, and registering an impressive 92.9% attendance. He credited it to the efforts of officials, and highlighted the government's commitment to transparency, even in the face of political and legal hurdles. 'Despite 31 court cases filed at the behest of YSRCP, the exam was held with fairness and transparency,' he said. He highlighted provisions that ensured equity in the recruitment process, including SC sub-categorisation, and 3% sports quota. These inclusivity measures are part of the government's vision for equal opportunities in education sector. The preliminary answer keys for the DSC exam have been released, and candidates can submit corrections if any within the notified window, he said. Lokesh appreciated the district and State-level officials who contributed to the seamless conduct of the recruitment drive. The DSC (District Selection Committee) is seen as a major part of the State government's educational reforms aimed at improving teacher strength in government schools.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Three modern hostels to come up in Mangalagiri
GUNTUR: In a major step to enhance student welfare infrastructure, three modern residential hostels are being constructed in the Mangalagiri segment using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The initiative, led by Education Minister N Lokesh, was formally launched with the foundation stone laying ceremony on Wednesday. Announcing the projects, District Collector S Nagalakshmi said a girls' hostel for the Social Welfare Department in Mangalagiri will be built by VVIT Charitable Trust at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of APEWIDC Chairman K Rajashekhar, TTD Trust Board Member Tammineni Janakidevi, and VVIT Trust Chairman Vasireddy Vidyasagar. Two more hostels are planned in Duggirala and Penumaka. In Duggirala, Cell Con Implex Pvt. Ltd. is investing Rs 3.5 crore to build a girls' hostel under the Social Welfare Department. In Penumaka, Radico Khaitan Ltd. is funding a boys' hostel for the BC Welfare Department at the same cost. Each hostel will accommodate 150–170 students from pre-matric and post-matric levels and feature dormitories, study rooms, dining areas, kitchens, and other facilities. Nagalakshmi noted that as part of the government's first-anniversary celebrations, similar development works are underway.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Education kits for 35.94 lakh students in Andhra Pradesh
VIJAYAWADA: As the 2025–26 academic year begins, the State government will distribute educational kits to 35.94 lakh students across government and aided schools under the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra (SRKVM) scheme. Valued at Rs 953.71 crore, the initiative targets students from Class I to X and aims to ensure equitable access to learning resources. The funding comprises Rs 778.68 crore from the State and Rs 175.03 crore from the Centre. Following the directive of HRD and IT Minister N Lokesh, each student will receive a kit worth Rs 2,279. The kit includes three pairs of uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, workbooks, a school bag, belt, shoes, two pairs of socks, and dictionaries—an Oxford English-English-Telugu version for Class VI students and a pictorial dictionary for Class I. Notably, this year's scheme also covers textbook and notebook supply for intermediate students in government colleges.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SGTs to get manual counselling for transfer as Andhra government yields to demand
VIJAYAWADA: In a welcome move for the teaching community, the State government has decided to conduct manual counselling for Secondary Grade Teachers (SGTs), replacing the earlier plan of web-based counselling. The announcement came late on Monday evening, following growing concerns from teachers over the online process. TDP General Secretary and HRD Minister N Lokesh shared the decision on social media platform X, stating, 'After my field visit to Parvathipuram Manyam district, I discussed SGT counselling with public representatives and TDP MLCs Vepada Chiranjeevi, Kancharla Srikanth, Bhumireddy Ram Gopal Reddy, Alapati Raja, and Perabathula Rajasekhar. 'The MLCs conveyed the views of the teachers to me. As per their request, we have decided to conduct manual counselling for SGTs instead of online counselling.' The move comes after repeated appeals by teachers' unions and elected representatives who flagged issues with the online process, citing lack of transparency and technical challenges. The government's shift to manual counselling is being seen as a significant step toward ensuring a fair and stress-free transfer process. On Sunday, the Director of School Education announced Slot Counselling within Web Counselling. Teacher associations across the State have welcomed the latest decision of manual counselling.
