G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 11: The much awaited RMSA girl's hostels which were sanctioned by MHRD for Educationally Backward Areas (EBAs) years ago for Jammu division await completion. The executing agency (PWD) has attributed delayto to poor funding under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
Well placed sources in RMSA informed Early Times that nearly 24 girls' hostel were sanctioned to Jammu region and remaining (44) for Kashmir region including five for Ladakh. "Ironically, out of 24, none of them have been completed so far. However, the officials of executive agency (Public Works Department) has attributed inordinate delay in completion of these hostels to poor funding and identification of land by the education department ", said sources while wishing anonymity.
Executive Engineer (Xen) of Udhampur division said that in Udhampur district, the department had allotted five girls' hostels for construction with worth of Rs 299.5 Lakhs but due to poor funding and land dispute, the pace of work was slow.
"However, three hostels allotted at High School Chenani, Higher Secondary School Panchari and Government Middle School Ramnagar are complete but furnishing work is pending whereas one has issue of land dispute and other one would be completed within few months, if the department transfers funds on time," he said.
According to Executive Engineer, Mustaq Ahamed Raina in Rajouri district, five hostels including Rajouri, Peeri and Manjakote are ninety percent complete and furnishing work is lingering on due to paucity of funds. Nearly fifty percent funds are still not released by RMSA so far and other two have been facing same situation.
"Whereas in Doda district, the girl hostel is being built at City Model School Doda is near to complete while the girl hostel at Higher Secondary School, Kastigarh is still not initiated due to land dispute", said XEn Ishar Dass Bhagat .
The nonchalant attitude of RMSA can be gauged from this fact that the purpose of establishing hostels in educationally backward areas is defeating in each passing days. "Despite incessant thrust on part of ministry of Human Resources in term of funds, but the officials are seem least bothered to complete the hostels in stipulated time frame which was sanctioned during the announcement in financial year, 2015-16", said sources while wishing not to be mentioned here. |
