Berhampur: It seems that the Odisha government is unaware of the fact that more than 400 students of the border villages of the state have taken admission in government schools in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
To increase the attendance in schools, the Andhra Pradesh government had launched a new scheme ‘Amma Badi’ with a provision of a one-time incentive of Rs 15,000 to the students, which was sent to the bank account of the parents/guardians of the students.
Although the new scheme is only for the students of Andhra Pradesh, about 400 students of 34 border villages in Patrapur block of Ganjam district have taken admission in several government schools of the neighbouring state.
While 60 students of Gudipadar and B Nuagan panchayats of Patrapur block have taken admission in government schools at T Brahamapur, Jagannathpur and Balrampur in Andhra Pradesh, around 350 of Patrapur block have taken admission in the Zilla Parishad High School at K Sasanam village in Icchhapur district.
This is being attributed to closure of government schools in these villages due to the COVID-19 pandemic and better facilities in those across the border.
A total of 34 villages of Patrapur block are situated near the border of Andhra Pradesh. Of 142 government upper primary schools from Class I to VIII in these villages, 14 are bilingual schools where the students are taught in both Telegu and Odia languages. While these schools have remained closed since March 17 last year, the Andhra Pradesh government has opened its government upper primary schools from January this year, the sources added.
