Amaravati, Oct 8 (IANS): In one of the first major public programmes amid the Covid pandemic and multiple unlock phases, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched the ‘Jagananna Vidya Kanuka'.

'Jagananna Vidya Kanuka' is a government scheme for school children up to 10th standard, supplying uniforms, books, shoes, socks, belts and school bags to lakhs of students.

"This government aims to protect every child's education and provide the best education system to all. This scheme is another step towards increasing government schools' enrollment rate and bring down the dropout rate," said Reddy, launching the scheme.

As many as 42.3 lakh students will be provided with the student kits, costing the government Rs 650 crore.

Costing Rs 1,600, each student kit will contain three pairs of uniform dress, one pair of shoes, two pairs of socks, a belt, one set of textbooks, notebooks and a school bag.

After launching the scheme, the Chief Minister himself made a student wear a school bag.

These kits will be distributed to children across the state over the next three days, following Covid guidelines so that they can be ready to attend schools all geared up on November 2 when schools are scheduled to reopen.

"We are changing the face of public schools day by day under Nadu-Nedu. Our main goal is to provide nutritious food and clean water in all schools. Close to 44 lakh students studying in government schools will receive these kits by November 2," said the Chief Minister.

Reddy said the state government is implementing eight schemes to change the lives of the poor.

Under Ammavodi (mother's lap), Rs 15,000 will be distributed to the mothers of poor children for sending them to school. Ammavodi applies to eligible students from I to XII standards.

As many as 43 lakh mothers are expected to benefit from the Rs 6,500 crore Ammavodi scheme.

Under the Nadu-Nedu (then and now) scheme 45,000 government schools will be renovated in the southern state. In the first phase, the state government has allocated Rs 3,600 crore for 15,715 schools.

Nadu-Nedu will transform basic infrastructure such as blackboards, fans, compound walls, and other furniture to give a new look to the government schools.

The government intends to spend Rs 11,370 crore on Nadu-Nedu in three years.

Jagananna Gorumudda, a mid-day meal scheme will offer nutritious food to 40 lakh students in 45,484 government and aided schools.