Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh asserted that the state has achieved the highest rank in the nation for utilizing funds from the PM SHRI scheme, a central government program focused on upgrading government schools.

The minister evaluated the Education Department's performance with top officials and congratulated them for reaching the milestone under the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) initiative.

Lokesh announced in an official release late Thursday that Andhra Pradesh has become the top state in India for utilizing funds under the PM SHRI scheme, urging officials to build 844 smart kitchens throughout the state this year following the successful Kadapa model.

The PM SHRI initiative aims to enhance 14,500 schools and is projected to assist 1.8 million learners. It also seeks to guarantee that these schools function as exemplary institutions and embody the essence of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Officials notified the minister that the distribution of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra Kits has started and efforts are being made to finalize the process before the forthcoming Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM).

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Lokesh instructed officials to promptly initiate the installation of 53,180 bunk beds for 1.06 lakh girl students enrolled in 430 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) throughout the state.

He also directed officials to expand the service to Residential Schools and Colleges in Andhra Pradesh.

The minister was informed that educational kits are also being distributed to 2.03 lakh students studying in government junior colleges across the southern state.

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In reviewing private unaided schools, Lokesh instructed officials to eliminate superfluous regulations in the approval process and to ensure that the sanctioned fee structure is visibly posted on school grounds and accessible in the public domain for transparency.

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Additionally, the Education Minister instructed officials to guarantee that orphaned children are included in the Talliki Vandanam scheme, which offers Rs 15,000 to each school-going child annually.