The AIADMK regime has always accorded top priority for higher education and has set up as many as 76 new government arts and science colleges across the state in the last six years, said Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief Minister.
Late Jayalalithaa sanctioned 65 new government arts and science colleges particularly in the rural areas during her regime from 2011.
The AIADMK regime after Jayalalithaa’s demise led by him sanctioned 11 new arts and science colleges, for providing higher education to the rural youths at their doorsteps, Mr. Palaniswami said while addressing the students of the Periyar University Constituent College of Arts and Science, Edappadi at the inspection bungalow in Edappadi town on Monday evening.
The students called on the Chief Minister to thank him for allotting adequate funds for the construction of additional class rooms, laboratory and compound wall for the college.
Mr. Palaniswami said that following the effective steps with farsightedness initiated by late Jayalalithaa, the percentage of the students achieving higher education went up to a big extent.
About 21 % of the youths of the state had achieved higher education in the state by 2011 and the same has risen to 44.38 % at present, making Tamil Nadu one of the leading states in the field of higher education.
The entire credit should go to the AIADMK regime, he said.
The Chief Minister said that late Jayalalithaa had allotted a whopping ₹ 14,000 crores for the distribution of laptops to school students, which enabled achieving revolution in the field of science.
Underlining the importance of higher education, Mr. Palaniswami said only education will enable the youths in achieving laurels and build a bright future.
There were not many opportunities in the past for achieving higher education. Now the government has provided all the needed opportunities and the infrastructure and the younger generation should take full advantage of the same.
The Chief Minister said that the students and the local people had submitted petition to him seeking additional rooms, laboratory and compound wall for the college.
The government has immediately sanctioned ₹ 3.79 crore – ₹ 2.97 crore for the construction of additional class rooms and Rs. 82 lakhs for raising compound wall.
The Chief Minister assured to allot adequate funds from his MLA Local Area Development Fund for the construction of a shelter at the college bus stop.
He said the road leading to the college from Edappadi town has sharp curves proving accident prone. The government has sanctioned ₹ 4 crore for widening the road, he added.
A group of students of the Panchayat Union Middle School in Pudupalayam village near Edappadi have developed eco-friendly pens in an effort to check the usage of plastic materials and protect the environment.
The students presented the organic pen to the Chief Minister, who commended the initiative.
The Chief Minister received petitions from the public at the inspection bungalow.
Rohini R. Bhajibhakare, District Collector, P. Rajan, Superintendent of Police, received the Chief Minister at the district border.
The Chief Minister later left for his native Siluvampalayam village.
Earlier, V. Saroja, Social Welfare Minister and M. Asia Mariam, Collector, received the Chief Minister, at Paramathivelur.
Source:-.thehindu
