10 hours ago
Lokesh urges central support for HC bench, edu reforms in AP
Vijayawada: Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday urged Union minister for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal to help set up a high court bench at Kurnool.
Lokesh met Meghwal on Wednesday as part of his Delhi tour and explained the necessity for a high court bench in view of the long-pending demand and practical difficulties faced by people from the Rayalaseema region.
Lokesh also met several union ministers on the first day of his two-day visit to the national capital.
In the meeting with Union minister for education Dharmendra Pradhan, Lokesh explained the structural reforms being brought for the Andhra model of education, with a special focus on learning outcomes. He also explained the Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh (LEAP) system, the one class one teacher initiative in 9,600 model primary schools, and the upgrading of 700 upper primary schools to high schools.
To bring transparency into the system, legislation was introduced for teacher transfers, and star ratings are being given to schools based on performance.
Lokesh said the state govt is planning to bring unified legislation for strengthening higher education in universities. He said that with the effective implementation of Swayam, Swayam+ Samarth programs, the gross enrolment ratio increased from 36% to 50% in higher education.
The AI University, sports university, and international law university, which are to be set up, will further strengthen higher education in AP, he said.
Lokesh also sought the Centre's cooperation in setting up food processing industries in the Rayalaseema region. In the meeting with the Union minister for food processing Chirag Paswan he explained that the Rayalaseema region is suitable for horticulture crops. Large cultivation of mango, tomato, banana, and other horticultural crops is done in the region, but farmers often find themselves at the losing end in the absence of processing units.
Paswan promised to visit the region to explore opportunities for setting up new industries. Lokesh also met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union home minister Amit Shah and discussed various issues pertaining to the state.
