MA&UD Minister Ponguru Narayana greeting students ahead of distribution of bicycles at VRC Grounds in Nellore on Monday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The family members of Dr. Ponguru Narayana, Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, distributed free bicycles to 7,000 students studying in government high schools across Nellore City and rural constituencies in the first phase. A total of 10,000 bicycles are being distributed to government school students at a cost of ₹6 crore from their own funds.Addressing the students at the distribution programme at VRC Grounds in Nellore on Monday (July 27, 2026), the Minister shared his own journey. He said, “I did not merely read about poverty in books; I experienced it first hand. Born in a hut, I used to walk from Harnathapuram to VRC to attend school. My father supported the family by working as a private bus conductor.”He said, “The hardships I endured should not be faced by the children of this generation. That is why we are providing bicycles. The remaining 3,000 bicycles will be given in January 2027.” He lauded Education Minister Nara Lokesh for his efforts towards educational development and pledged to extend support to ‘P-4’ programme introduced by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.Mr. Narayana further said, “I was deeply moved by the hardships faced by underprivileged students while visiting 80,000 households during election campaign, and I resolved then to provide them with quality education as an asset. VR High School has been upgraded to international standards using CSR funds of ₹17 crore, and currently, 1,100 underprivileged students are studying here.”“We are modernising another 14 government high schools in the city and constructing Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International School on Waqf Board land using CSR funds of ₹20 crore. We are offering free study materials from Narayana Educational Institutions to government school students and IIT Foundation training would commence on August 1, 2026,” he informed.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister’s daughter, Ponguru Sindhura, said that her father—who hails from an ordinary family—worked hard to reach this position. She said, inspired by that same spirit, they are undertaking service activities for underprivileged students. She stated that her family’s goal is to elevate government schools in the city to international standards. Published - July 27, 2026 09:27 pm IST
