Rajya Sabha MP urges budgetary support for 13 JNVs, two AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh

Rajya Sabha member Lingamaneni Ramesh has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to provide budgetary support for establishing 13 new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and two additional All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Andhra Pradesh.

In a representation made on Tuesday, Mr. Ramesh highlighted that Andhra Pradesh has 28 districts, but JNVs are available in only 15, leaving 13 districts without these centrally funded residential schools. He stressed that extending the JNV network to all districts would benefit talented students, particularly those from rural and economically disadvantaged sections, by giving them access to quality education.

The Union Cabinet, in December 2024, approved the establishment of 28 new JNVs in uncovered districts across the country, with an estimated expenditure of ₹2,359.82 crore over five years. Mr. Ramesh estimated that creating 13 JNVs in Andhra Pradesh would require around ₹1,096 crore over the same period. He requested in-principle approval, multi-year budgetary allocations, and consultations with the State government and the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to identify suitable locations and land.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are residential schools run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Education. They offer free education to talented children, predominantly from rural areas, with a common curriculum and modern teaching methods. The absence of these schools in 13 districts means that thousands of students in those areas do not have the same access to such opportunities.

On the healthcare front, Mr. Ramesh sought budgetary support for two new AIIMS. He recalled that AIIMS-Mangalagiri, located in Guntur district, was established under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The new institutes, he argued, would enhance access to tertiary and super-speciality care in North Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and other underserved areas. They would also contribute to medical education, specialist training and research.

He requested initial funding for feasibility studies and detailed project reports (DPRs), which would cover site selection, land acquisition and infrastructure planning. This would be followed by capital support for construction, equipment and operationalisation.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which led to the creation of Telangana, included specific commitments regarding the establishment of institutions in the residuary state. The demand for additional JNVs and two AIIMS is part of ongoing efforts to implement these commitments. AIIMS-Mangalagiri, which began operations in the last decade, is the first such institution under this provision. The proposed new institutes would cater to regions that currently lack super-speciality healthcare facilities.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences are premier public medical institutions known for high standards of patient care, medical education and research. Having multiple AIIMS in a state helps reduce regional disparities in healthcare access.

The Union government has not yet publicly responded to Mr. Ramesh's representation. The Finance Minister is expected to consider it during allocations for the upcoming fiscal year.