The Telangana government has made an important pitch to the Union Government for support to a massive education project. They are seeking special financial help and an exemption from the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) limits for their ambitious Rs 30,000 crore Young India Integrated Residential Schools program.
A team led by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi. During the meeting, they explained how this huge investment aims to improve education, nutrition, and opportunities for hundreds of thousands of children across Telangana.
Bhatti Vikramarka, who also holds the position of State Finance Minister, shared that the goal is to create world-class residential schools that help marginalized communities and boost India’s demographic benefits. The government plans to build 105 modern, technology-enabled schools that will serve about 2,560 students from grades 5 to 12 in each school.
These schools will directly impact around 2.7 lakh students and also support approximately 5,250 nearby government schools. Indirectly, they hope to benefit about 4 lakh students by improving the overall education environment in the state.
Telangana has a large population from backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. Data shows that over 56% belong to backward classes, 17% are Scheduled Castes, and around 10% are Scheduled Tribes. Despite being one of the fast-growing economies, the state faces challenges in providing quality education and nutrition, which are essential for reducing poverty and fostering development.
The government pointed out that many existing government residential schools are operating from rented or small premises without the proper facilities. The new policy aims to address these gaps by creating state-of-the-art campuses and upgrading the overall education infrastructure.
The estimated cost for this project is Rs 30,000 crore. Of this, Rs 21,000 crore will go to building the new campuses, while around Rs 9,000 crore will be used to enhance other educational facilities like colleges, technical institutes, and digital infrastructure.
To fund this, the Telangana government plans to raise loans through a special-purpose corporation. They have asked the Union Government to help by exempting these loans from the usual FRBM limits, as they consider this a long-term investment in the future of children and youth, rather than regular expenditure.
Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized the importance of this initiative, calling it the biggest investment in children and youth ever made by the state. He expressed hope that with support from the Centre, these schools could become a national model for inclusive and quality education.
He also requested the central government to relax loan restrictions and consider restructuring existing loans, which were taken at high interest rates. Additionally, the delegation urged the Centre to increase duty on palm oil, as farmers are struggling due to recent reductions in import duties.
This campaign showcases Telangana’s commitment to transforming education and creating a better future for underprivileged children, with strong support from the central government.
