Hyderabad, July 24: Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju has directed all District Collectors to ensure that every student studying in government and residential schools receives two sets of school uniforms within one month. The instructions were issued during a statewide video conference held from the State Secretariat on Friday.
The review meeting covered school uniform production and distribution, preparedness for the El Niño weather conditions, rainfall deficiency, crop planning, and drought mitigation measures. The Chief Secretary conveyed that the directions were issued in line with the instructions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The Chief Secretary instructed district administrations to maintain strict quality standards. He emphasized that there should be no compromise on the quality of uniforms, shoes, and other items supplied under the school kit programme.
Collectors were also asked to obtain direct feedback from students regarding the quality of uniforms and school kits. This feedback will help improve implementation and ensure accountability.
District and Mandal-Level Monitoring CommitteesTo ensure timely completion, the state government has instructed officials to constitute district-level and mandal-level monitoring committees. These committees will regularly supervise stitching, distribution, and quality checks until all eligible students receive their uniforms.
The government expects continuous monitoring so that the distribution process remains transparent and efficient.
Telangana Records 27% Rainfall DeficitDuring the review, officials presented the latest weather assessment based on India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports.
According to the presentation, Telangana has recorded a 27% rainfall deficit so far this monsoon season. Officials stated that the state is among those significantly affected by El Niño conditions this year.
Only seven districts have received normal rainfall, while nearly 385 mandals continue to experience deficient rainfall. The IMD has also indicated that rainfall during September is likely to remain below normal, raising concerns over agricultural output and water availability.
Farmers Advised to Shift From PaddyIn view of the weak monsoon, the Chief Secretary advised officials to encourage farmers to cultivate alternative crops instead of paddy wherever feasible.
Officials noted that paddy cultivation has reached less than 24% of the expected area so far this season. They also informed the meeting that major reservoirs are being managed carefully to prioritize drinking water requirements.
The government is encouraging cultivation of crops that are eligible for Minimum Support Price (MSP) benefits. District officials were instructed to create awareness among farmers about these alternatives and guide them based on local conditions.
Senior Officials Attend ReviewThe video conference was attended by Special Chief Secretaries Savyasachi Ghosh and Dana Kishore, Irrigation Secretary Sridhar, Agriculture Secretary Surendra Mohan, School Education Director Naveen Nicolas, Panchayat Raj Commissioner Divya, Agriculture Director Gopi, and other senior officials.