Govt Junior College at Somalingapuram to be inaugurated by Aurobindo Pharma Foundation
National, 24th Feb 2022: Aurobindo Pharma Foundation is going to launch a newly constructed Govt Junior College building at Somalingapuram village and panchayat, Merakamudidam Mandal, Vizianagaram district. With a built-up area of 14000 sq. ft. in extent of 1.80 acres land, the building consists of 12 classrooms that includes a laboratory room besides a Staff room, Principal Room, Cycle shed, separate toilet blocks for Girls, Boys & Staff, Compound wall and other Infrastructure (dual desks, chairs, chalk boards and wardrobes). The college building will be inaugurated on 26 February 2022.
Total CSR funds of INR 3.30 Crores for the construction of this college wherein INR 2,60,00,000 was spend by Axis Clinical, INR 51,00,000 was spent by Trident Chemphar Ltd and INR 19,00,000 was spent by the Aurobindo Pharma Foundation for the establishment of Government Junior College at Merakamudidam.
In February 2019, a Government Order was issued by the Commissioner of Intermediate Education, Andhra Pradesh sanctioning the establishment of various new Government Junior Colleges across the state. Following this, a specific request letter was received from the Vizianagaram District Vocational Education Officer for the construction of a new Govt. Jr. College in Merakamudidam Mandal of Vizianagaram district.
Merakamudidam Mandal of Cheepurupalli constituency is located in a remote area with particularly poor access to colleges and secondary education institutions. Despite around 800 completing their schooling every year from this mandal, the residents have to travel almost 30 kms of distance every day to attend college or pursue higher education. Furthermore, the majority of the population of Merakamudidam Mandal are Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, earning their livelihood through agriculture and daily wage labour. These circumstances demonstrate the pressing need to establish an institution for higher education to improve access to quality of education, and thereby improve the livelihood and employment opportunities. This new college will be of great help to those in need of quality education and proper infrastructure. In every academic year, this college will provide quality higher education to around 600 students in an accessible location at free of cost. Moreover, the college will offer 4 streams of intermediate education and 2 vocational courses allowing students to pursue higher education and improve their employment opportunities