Teachers Should Be Partners in Social Development – Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has called on teachers to go beyond classroom teaching and actively contribute to social development by understanding students’ family and social backgrounds. Speaking at the School Teachers Federation (STF) State Education Conference held at the Engineering Association building in Khairatabad on Sunday, he said education was the key to social transformation. He stressed that the government’s aim was to equip Telangana’s youth with the knowledge and skills needed to compete globally. Bhatti inaugurated the conference by lighting the ceremonial lamp and highlighted the crucial role teachers play in shaping students’ futures. He said a student’s development depends not only on classroom learning but also on the home environment, nutrition, family finances and social circumstances. He urged teachers to inform parents about government welfare schemes and help eligible families access their benefits.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government was giving priority to resolving teachers’ long-pending issues. He stated that thousands of teachers had received promotions, around 11,000 teaching posts had been filled and transfers had been carried out for approximately 30,000 to 35,000 teachers. He also highlighted the government’s plans to transform public education through Young India Integrated Residential Schools and Telangana Public Schools. According to Bhatti, 105 Young India schools had received approval, with at least one planned for every Assembly constituency. Each school is being developed on 20 to 25 acres at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore, with facilities for education, accommodation, sports and extracurricular activities. He said the schools would bring children from different social backgrounds together to promote equality. The government also plans to establish around 100 semi-residential Telangana Public Schools, where students will receive transport, uniforms, books, breakfast and lunch before returning home in the evening. He added that breakfast was being provided to around 27 lakh students across the state, while residential school diet charges had been increased by 40% and cosmetic allowances by 200%.

Bhatti further said the government was supporting students’ families through welfare programmes, including Indiramma housing assistance of ₹5 lakh for eligible families, free electricity up to 200 units, fine rice distribution and pensions for senior citizens. He urged teachers to create awareness about these schemes among students and their parents. Addressing employee welfare, he said government employees and teachers were being paid on the first of every month. He also referred to the implementation of cashless health cards and the phased clearance of pending bills, with monthly payments ranging from ₹750 crore to ₹1,000 crore. Referring to philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, Bhatti encouraged teachers to become role models and guides for future generations. He assured them that the government was willing to examine their concerns and called on them to support the education reforms. Former MLA Kichanna Lakshma Reddy, STF State President Devarakonda Saidulu, General Secretary Pochayya and Professor Vishweshwar Rao, among others, attended the conference.