Hyderabad, August 04: The Centre has released Rs.409.77 crore as first instalment for setting up 353 model schools in the educationally-backward blocks across the state.
The Centre has sanctioned the amount to the Andhra Pradesh Secondary Education Society under a Centrally-sponsored programme.
The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, thanked the Union human resource development minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, for releasing the grant.
Mr Reddy said the grant will be utilised on the programme as per the approved guidelines of the Centre.
The state government too will release its share soon.