'Chinnara Jilla Darshana,' a runaway success: Kageri

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, he said earlier the number of students touring the State annually was limited to around 20,000.

However, after the introduction of ‘touring the district’ concept, a large number of students tour their respective districts, he said and added that the tour includes 2 days and 1 night and covers important places in the district.

For example, the 60-page booklet of Dakshina Kannada district covers information on 71 tourist spots of the district with photographs and route maps.

Interestingly, there is a huge demand from tourists for the booklet, the minister said in a lighter vein.

In Dakshina Kannada, a total of 3,130 students and 290 teachers have toured the district in 2009-10, Kageri informed.

Hike in honourarium

Stating that the honourarium for the cooking staff of mid-day meal scheme has been increased from Rs 650 to Rs 1,100, the Minister said that the Education Department has specified the number of cooks depending on the number of students. As per the order, there will be 1 cook, if there are less than 25 students.

Similarly, the school shall have 2 cooks if there are more than 26 and less than 100 students.

 The number of cooks will be 3, 4 or 5 respectively if the students are between 101 and 200, 201 and 300 and 301 and 500, he informed.

He also informed that there will not be any compromise on quality of rice, dal, vegetables and oil.

Meanwhile, Kageri also informed about the attempts of the Department in enhancing the quality of education with the slogan “Swrasta oadu, suddha baraha, samarthya vikasa varsha” (Clarity in reading, quality in writing and capacity building year for students).

To a query on shortage of textbooks, the Minister said that the textbooks will be ready by March 2010 for the academic year 2010-11.MLA Yogish Bhat was also present.

Earlier in the day, when the Minister visited Surathkal, Beary litterateur Azeez Baikampady appealed the minister to re-organise education blocks as the present blocks are hampering the educational activities.

He said there are 125 schools in Moodbidre block while 140 schools in Mangalore city. However, the number of schools in Mangalore Rural is 430 and covers regions from Kannur to Kinnigoli.

He requested the minister to include some schools from Mangalore Rural in Moodbidre as well as Mangalore city block so that all regions have equal number of schools.
The minister immediately directed DDPI Chame Gowda to submit a report in this regard.