The much-debated free eggs scheme for school children is being extended to students of class 9 and 10 from the current academic year in Karnataka according to an announcement made in the state budget on Friday.

Presenting the budget in Bengaluru, Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the program will also be extended to the students in the higher classes, benefiting a total of around 60 lakh students in the state. A total of Rs 280 crore has been allotted in the budget for the same.

For those students who do not consume eggs, peanut chikki or a banana would be offered. The congress government, which had reduced the number of days eggs will be given to students previously has now extended it to two days a week.

Among the other announcements for the department of school education and literacy is the introduction of a scheme for laggard students.

“With the aim of addressing the learning deficiencies in children, ‘Kalika Balavardhane’ program will be launched at a cost of Rs 80 crore. Around 33 lakh students are expected to benefit from this program. Further, under a new program ‘Marusinchana’, 1.5 lakh students with learning deficiency will be prepared for secondary level examinations through special training,” Siddaramaiah said.  

The School Education Department’s SATS software will be upgraded as SATS 2.0.  

Under the ‘Sasya Shamala’ programme, 50 lakh saplings will be planted in and around schools this year in collaboration with the Education and Forest Department.

10 new residential schools for children with intellectual disabilities will be started in the year 2023-24 at the cost of Rs 2 crore in collaboration with NGOs in seven districts of Karnataka.

‘Vidhyarthigaligagi Thotagarike’ (Horticulture for Students) scheme will be initiated to provide practical knowledge about the horticulture sector to high school students.

Meanwhile, prime focus has been on improving infrastructure in government run facilities. Here are some significant announcements.

•  62 minority Morarji Desai Residential Schools to be upgraded as integrated schools from class 6-12. This will benefit 13,000 students. Rs 30 crore has been allocated.  
•  Better performing Moulana Azad Schools to be identified. Measures to enhance the quality of education in these schools and basic infrastructure planned.  
•  Language labs will be established at Rs 5 cr in all the Minority Morarji Desai Residential Schools to improve Kannada and English language skills of students belonging to minority communities.
• Rs 310 crore allocated for the construction of class rooms in schools and Rs 240 crore for construction of class rooms in Pre-University colleges. Overall Rs 550 crore set aside for construction of 8,311 school and college class rooms
•  New toilet complexes in 5,775 schools and 150 colleges in convergence with MGNREGS at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
• 3,833 old dilapidated and rain damaged school buildings and 724 pre-university college rooms to be repaired at a Rs 100 crore.
•  Innovation labs to be established in Higher Primary and Pre-University Colleges. In 2023-24, four labs will be established in every revenue division of the state at a cost of Rs 2 crore.
• Rs 10 crore will be provided to purchase books for public libraries.
• In the year 2023-24, Rs 51,229 crore grant is allocated for the children oriented schemes.

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