K'taka Govt to build houses for 5,000 teachers

Gadag, Karnataka, May 30 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will construct houses for 5,000 teachers at a cost of Rs 350 crore, Primary and Secondary, Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti has said.

Inaugurating a state-level programme organised to mark the distribution of text books and uniforms to school children yesterday, he said action had already been initiated to build 'Guru Sadanas' at a cost of Rs 350 crore, besides distributing 2.79 crore text books worth Rs 30 crore and Rs 93.5 crore worth uniforms.

The Minister said efforts would be made to bring 61 educationally backward blocks in the North Karnataka region to the mainstream by providing basic facilities such as building and drinking water.

Vowing to bring the state to the number one position in educational status from the present number three behind Goa and Kerala, Mr Horatti said the government was spending Rs 810 per student in the state for uniforms and text books.

Except for some schools in Belgaum district, text books have reached every school and action had been taken to provide books in Belgaum district also by June one, he added.

Admitting that there was rampant corruption in transfer of teachers in his department, he said he would take steps to eradicate the same at the earliest.

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