Priority to education, health: Collector

Paderu (Visakha Agency): District Collector Solomon Arokia Raj, who assumed charge here recently, held a review meeting with the officials at the ITDA office here on Tuesday. On this occasion, he said priority would be given to education, medical and healthcare, besides effective implementation of all government welfare schemes. He enquired about the implementation of welfare schemes, filling up of vacant posts of doctors and staff in the Medical and Health wing, availability of medicines in all Primary Health Centres (PHCs), institutional deliveries and the state of ambulance service.

Mr Arokia Raj asked the officials to initiate steps to increase the number of institutional deliveries. Further, he enquired about the availability of anti-malaria drugs, mosquito nets and sprays to contain the growth of mosquitoes. About the coffee plantation in the Agency areas, the Collector sought details about the extent of coffee plantation, internal crops, crop yields and Minimum Support Price (MSP) to tribal farmers. He also sought information about the payments ­under the MGNREGS and the coffee plantation.

Referring to education, Mr Arokia Raj took stock of the functioning of high schools, colleges, Ashram schools and post-Matric hostels and also the functioning of GCC outlets in the Agency area. Among others, RDO M Ganapathi Rao, ITDA APO Naidu, deputy director Mallikarjuna Rao, DE Appalanaidu, ADM&HO Dr Swapna Kumari and district malaria officer Dr Prasada Rao were present.