THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has allotted Rs 80 lakh for the comprehensive development of all schools in Thiruvananthapuram constituency. Health Minister V S Sivakumar shared this at a function organised to inaugurate the steam kitchen at Government LP School, Cotton Hill.
“The comprehensive education project is aimed at the infrastructural and academic development of all schools in Thiruvananthapuram,” he said.
The Minister also said that Rs 50 lakh has been allotted for a foot-overbridge, to help students cross the road during rush hour.
The school headmistress requested the Minister to grant more smart classrooms. He said that while the funds needed are going to more than what would be allotted through the Comprehensive Development Project, he will look into it.
The school’s steam kitchen was built utilising Rs 10 lakh from Sivakumar’s MLA Fund. In addition, the PTA had to spend more than Rs 50,000 on plumbing and beautification works. PTA president C K Balakrishnan said, “There was no money. Initially, no contractor was ready to take up the work, as there was no profit. We are most grateful to the contractor who decided to take up the work.’’
The Minister lauded the school’s headmistress M Celine, PTA, MPTA and SMC for their joint efforts in improving school infrastructure. The school authorities requested better facilities in the kitchen three years ago, as the smoke from the kitchen would waft to classes. Moreover, cooking in time was always a challenge for the two cooks.
The new kitchen has special steam cooking units to make ‘puttu’, ‘idli’, rice and curries. In addition, there is an ‘Aluva aduppu’, a smokeless oven. The wall next to the kitchen was mended and painted. “The kitchen reduces the efforts of the cooks. Next on the cards is a lunch room for the children, next to the kitchen,” said the headmistress.
The school has 967 students, this year. Since some students bring meals from home, the number of students who eat at the school is 500. Due to limited space availability, the lunch room is to be set up in a sliver of an area. So, lunch will be served in shifts. “As and when the money comes, we will lay steel benches and desks. It will be a hygienic atmosphere for the children to enjoy their meal,” said Celine M.
The function was presided over by councillor K Sureshkumar. Syamala Warrier, BPO, Thiruvananthapuram South URC, SSA; R Rajendran, chairman, SMC; Parvathy P, school leader; and R Selin, staff secretary, spoke. At the end of the function, ‘payasam’ made at the new kitchen was served to all.