ORDER:

Attention of all the District Educational Officers and the Additional Project Coordinators of Samagra Shiksha in the State except ASR district is invited to the reference cited and are informed that the Project Approval Board, MHRD, Government of India, has approved an amount of Rs.3468.75 lakh under under the PM SHRI component Project Innovation Programme (Non-Recurring) to establish 125 Autism centers across the State during the 2025-26 academic year for providing different educational support among Children with autism as follows:

Sl.No	District	Number of Autism Centers proposed under PM SHRI	Approved budget for constructing each center (Rs in Lakhs)	Total approved Budget ( Rs in lakhs)
1	ANAKAPALLI	2	27.75	55.5
2	ANANTAPUR	7	27.75	194.25
3	ANNAMAYYA	5	27.75	138.75
4	BAPATLA	4	27.75	111
5	CHITTOOR	5	27.75	138.75
6	EAST GODAVARI	3	27.75	83.25
7	ELURU	4	27.75	111
8	GUNTUR	4	27.75	111
9	KADAPA	8	27.75	222
10	KAKINADA	7	27.75	194.25
11	KONASEEMA	4	27.75	111
12	KRISHNA	5	27.75	138.75
13	KURNOOL	4	27.75	111
14	MANYAM	3	27.75	83.25
15	NANDYAL	6	27.75	166.5
16	NELLORE	6	27.75	166.5
17	NTR	5	27.75	138.75
18	PALNADU	8	27.75	222
19	PRAKASAM	7	27.75	194.25
20	SRI SATYASAI	6	27.75	166.5
21	SRIKAKULAM	4	27.75	111
22	TIRUPATI	7	27.75	194.25
23	VISAKHAPATNAM	1	27.75	27.75
24	VIZIANAGARAM	4	27.75	111
25	WEST GODAVARI	6	27.75	166.5
Grand Total		125	27.75	3468.75

Further, it is informed that, Sri. Nara Lokesh, Honourable Minister of Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, has announced on 11th March, 2025 during assembly session to establishment of 125 autism centers one per municipality across the State. An advisory committee on Inclusive Education will be formed to oversee autism-specific screening, assessment, training, and rehabilitation for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objectives of Autism Centers at the Municipality Level:

• Provide training for parents and students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to support and empower them for effective learning.
• Serve as local awareness hubs for ASD, Intellectual Disability (ID), and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD).
• Conduct regular screenings for young children to enable early identification and intervention.

Implementation Strategy:

• With proper evaluation, assessment, and rehabilitation, Samagra Shiksha Andhra Pradesh can help children with autism integrate into society and provide essential training for their parents and siblings.
• Inclusive education and peer interaction are key to effective behavioral therapy and social development.
• Our work with hundreds of autistic children shows that each child has unique talents and a purpose. Identifying these strengths requires a long-term, center-based approach.
• Samagra Shiksha AP Autism Centers for discovering and nurturing the hidden talents of these brilliant minds for the benefit of society and the nation.

Further, it is informed that Sri. Ram Kamal Manoj, IE Expert of this office is nominated as the supervision authority for making of follow up actions as follows:

1. Preparing the action plan and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for setting up the autism centers.
2. Designing the autism centers.
3. Identifying the required teaching and learning materials and equipment.
4. Finalizing the staffing pattern.

Therefore, all the District Educational Officers are hereby instructed to visit and inspect the municipal schools identified as PM SHRI Schools (list attached) for the establishment of 125 Autism Centers across the State. During the inspection, the availability of space for the construction of two rooms, one urinal, and one disabled-friendly toilet, as per civil work norms, must be verified particularly in locations where children with autism are present. This exercise should be completed within 15 days and submit a detailed report to take further necessary action.

Further, you are instructed to coordinate with Sri Ram Kamal Manoj, IE Expert of this office, and the State Project Engineer for the planning and execution of the construction of the 125 Autism Centres in the State.

Sri. Ram Kamal Manoj, IE Expert of this office is instructed to hold the responsibility of establishment and supervision of 125 autism centers duly following the above responsibilities and submit compliance report time to time to this office to take further necessary actions in this matter.

AP Inclusive Education- Establishment of 125 Autism Centers in the State – Certain instructions DOWNLOAD