BC Gurukul schools to have permanent buildings with Rs 500 cr

Replying to questions raised by MLAs on the first day of the monsoon session of Assembly on Monday, the minister said there was huge demand for BC Gurukul schools as they were providing quality education to students. 

She said the government was also focusing on improving infrastructure in BC hostels and had allocated funds for repairs and maintenance. Savitha said 10 new BC Gurukul schools were established this year, with five each in Rayalaseema and North Andhra regions. 

Six BC girls’ Gurukul schools were upgraded into junior colleges to prevent dropouts among girl students. She said BC hostels with fewer than 50 students were being merged with Gurukul institutions. 

After the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh, the state had only 32 BC Gurukul schools. Between 2014 and 2019, the then government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu established 75 more BC Gurukul schools, she added. 

Of these, Rs 40 crore was sanctioned at that time for constructing permanent buildings for 25 MJP Gurukuls, with 70 to 80 per cent of the works completed. 

However, the subsequent government neglected the projects, she alleged. After coming to power, the coalition government released funds to restart the incomplete works. 

Construction works at Gurukuls in Gonabavi, Madakasira, Roddam, Pulivendula and other areas have resumed and will be completed soon, she said. 

The minister said 90,676 students were studying in BC hostels across the state and the coalition government had given special attention to their development. Repairs were taken up using CSR funds and District Mineral Foundation funds. 

She said severely damaged hostels were shifted to alternative buildings and more such facilities would be relocated soon. The government has provided CCTV cameras, RO plants, inverters and mosquito nets in hostels to improve facilities. 

An attendance monitoring system through FRS technology was introduced to improve the attendance of wardens and students. The government also appointed 1,291 sanitation workers and 142 cooks and assistants for hostel maintenance. 

She said Rs 20 crore was allocated in the 2026-27 Budget for hostel repairs. Savitha said an additional building was being constructed for the Bheemili BC Gurukul school at a cost of Rs 9.75 crore. Estimates had already been prepared and construction would begin after receiving approvals. 

The coalition government has allocated Rs 80 crore to complete MJP Gurukul buildings, including the one at Bheemili, where construction works were stalled after reaching 70 to 80 per cent completion. 

These buildings would be dedicated to BC students within six months, she said.