JOIN USMore emphasis on girls' education: CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the State government has been taking several measures for the development of education and for ensuring imparting of quality education in the State.
Speaking after inaugurating the centenary celebration programme of Veerashaiva Vidyavardhak Sangha held at Kittur Rani Channamma school ground in Ballari on Friday, he said, the government is mulling to formulate new schemes and plans towards encouraging the girls’ education in the State.
Laptops
Mr Siddaramaiah informed that the government has decided to distribute free laptops to 1.96 lakh first year degree students in the State, irrespective of their castes and status, and the scheme will be launched in November. Elaborating the programmes launched by the government for encouraging the people to send their children to schools, he said, the government has been distributing quality milk to nearly 1.50 crore students in the State, cycles to the class 8th students, uniforms, textbooks, shoes and socks to other students.
Recalling the problems faced him during his student days, which inspired him to launch schemes like ‘Vidyasiri’ and ‘Shoe bhagya’, Mr Siddaramaiah stated that he had started wearing ‘chappals’ after he reached high school level. “The chappals worn by me were made of leather, that’s why they lasted for three years,” he added.
“While I was studying, I used to prepare rice in the room, and eat after bringing ‘sambar’ from outside. The’ Vidyasiri’ scheme was implemented specifically to ensure that such problems are not faced by present students. Nearly one lakh students are getting benefits under the scheme,” he said.
He emphasised the role played by the education in bringing about equality in society. “Only quality education can bring equality in the society. The equal and just society is created when even the last person’s son gets quality education,” he felt.
“If a country or a society is considered as developed, it means, the citizens or the members of the society are well educated. Changes can be brought in the society only through the education. Therefore, every person in the society should get education,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
He said, the main reason for the women belonging to all sections, and the people belonging to lower strata of what is referred to as ‘Varnashram’ , getting alienated from the society and being denied their rightful place in economic and social development, for facing inequality, sexual discrimination, and casteism, is because of the fact that they lagging behind educationally.
Praise for Sangha
“Ballari was in Madras province before India’s independence. The administrative language was Tamil, whereas people spoke Kannada. The Veerashaiva Vidyavardhak Sangha was establsihed in 1916 in this atmosphere, and has since been shaping the lives of thousands of students, he said, while praising the services rendered by Sangha in education field in the region.
Veerashaiva Vidyavardhak Sangha President Allum Basavaraj presided over the programme. Ministers Basavaraj Rayareddy, Sharan Prakash Patil, Santosh Lad, MLAs, MLCs, presidents of various Boards and Corporations, former MLAs, and others were present.