Student suicides must be stopped: Chandrababu Naidu

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu stressed upon the need to check suicides of students in the state. He observed that students are committing suicides due to stress and the problem should be solved. He said this as he presented Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskarams to 6500 meritorious students at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium on Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of the former president and Missile man of India Abdul Kalam.

• Pratibha Puraskarams-2017 presented to students at IGMC stadium to mark birth anniversary of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
• 6,500 students attend the award distribution programme
• CM says the State government is giving top priority to health and education and spending Rs 4,000 crore to develop infrastructure in government schools

Naidu also said the government is organising an important meeting tomorrow in Vijayawada to discuss important issues of students like suicides, stress and other subjects. Addressing a huge gathering of students, parents, teachers, NGOs and government employees, the CM said the A P J Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskarams will be increased to 7500 next year.

He said 3992 Tenth class students, 507 inter students, 422 technical education students, 312 degree college students and 1267 University students were selected for the awards. The Chief Minister said the state government is giving top priority to health and education and spending Rs.4000 crore to develop infrastructure facilities in Government schools this financial year.

The government schools will have better furniture in future compared to the private schools with the measures taken by the Government, he added. He said more girl students were selected for Pratibha Puraskaram compared to the boys. Of the 3992 total Tenth class students selected for awards, 63.40 percent were girls and remaining 34 percent were boys, he added.

He said the Government does not show discrimination towards girls and would give equal opportunities for both boys and girls to promote education. The CM has appealed to the parents to give their children quality education, good manners and culture. He said both education and manners are important to become good citizens of the country.

He said the Government is developing educational institutions and appointing teachers through DSC because education has become very costly. He said virtual digital classes will be opened across the state to promote digital education where children can speak to the teachers online from other places to clarify their doubts.

He personally interacted with some students and inquired about their goals. Most students said they wanted to become IAS officers and would like to work in the state government under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu.

Delighted with the replay, the CM blessed the students and gave assurance to render all kinds of assistance. Teachers, parents including grandmothers also spoke on the occasion and thanked the state government for the award presentation to meritorious students.

HRD Minister GantaSrinivasa Rao explained the objectives of education department and assured the students and parents the government would extend co-operation to promote education in the State. Water resources Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, district collector B Lakshmikantham, Secretary, Board of Intermediate Education B Udaya Lakshmi and other officials attended the awards presentation programme.