Telangana government announces free power for educational institutions

HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu announced that the Telangana government would provide free electricity to all government educational institutions.

Speaking at a Teachers' Day event at Ravindra Bharathi on Thursday, the Deputy CM highlighted the benefit this would bring to 27,862 schools across the state. He assured that the government would cover all electricity bills for these institutions, reducing their operational burden.

During his address, Vikramarka praised the Congress government for prioritising education and teachers. He recalled the struggles faced by teachers over the past decade, citing issues such as delayed promotions and transfers. He stated that the Congress government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, implemented transparent transfers for 45,000 teachers and granted promotions to 30,000 teachers.

The Deputy CM emphasised the government's commitment to resolving teachers' remaining issues. He noted that quality education was essential for societal development and that teachers play a vital role in building a progressive Telangana. Vikramarka urged teachers to continue instilling good values and habits in students, which would help them address the various challenges in society.

Vikramarka mentioned that the Congress government had successfully conducted the DSC examination for 11,062 teaching positions. He announced plans to issue another notification soon for over 6,000 additional posts.

The Deputy CM also discussed the government's efforts to improve the infrastructure in government schools. He revealed that Rs 667 crore had been allocated for school infrastructure, with Rs 136 crore specifically for sanitation works. He also mentioned the Skill University being established to prepare human resources for the state's growing industrial needs.

Vikramarka recognised the crucial role of teachers in Telangana's progress and lauded their contributions to the state's education system.

Later in the day, the State Government issued GO MS No 20 to provide free electricity to all government educational institutions across the state.

According to the order, the scheme will be implemented immediately. TG DISCOMS will establish an online portal, giving login access to the respective institutions' departments. The portal will manage the billing, consumption, and payment processes.

The secretaries of the concerned departments will finalise the list of institutions to be covered under the scheme. Monthly billing will be calculated for each institution and displayed online, providing power consumption and cost details. A hard copy of the bill will also be sent to the institution's in-charge.

The portal will generate detailed reports on consumption, billing history, payments, and institution-wise data. Additionally, it will be integrated with the Finance Department to facilitate timely bill payment using allocated budget provisions.