Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 6: Jammu and Kashmir government especially the education department has virtually failed to electrify thousands of elementary and secondary schools approved under Samagra Shiksha scheme for financial year, 2018-19.
Sources informed Early Times that during the Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting which was held on 20th June, 2018, the union government had given approval of electrification for 843 Elementary School and 768 Secondary Schools and worth Rs 1095.90 Lacs and Rs 4992 Lacs respectively was approved under Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) for Samagra Shiksha scheme but ironically, only one month left to complete financial year, the state government seems least bothered about it.
"Under the project Samagra Shiksha scheme, the union government asked the state government's official to install solar panel in all the approved schools with Rs 1.3 Lakh for each elementary school and Rs 6.5 Lakhs for Secondary schools but the school education department failed to complete the project in time frame bound", said sources while wishing anonymity.
As per reliable sources, total 370 Elementary schools out of 843 were approved for Jammu division wherein 51 schools approved for Jammu district, 48 for Rajouri, 37 for Poonch, 40 for Ramban, 31 for Samba, 49 for Udhampur, 21 for Kathua, 27 for Kisthwar, 28 for Doda and 38 for Reasi district.
While 591 Secondary schools out of 768, were approved for Jammu division with total approved cost for installing solar panel is Rs 3,841.5 Lakhs in which 97 Secondary schools approved for Jammu district, 91 for Poonch district, 63 for Rajouri, 46 for Ramban, 30 for Samba, 68 for Udhampur, 62 for Doda, 70 for Kathua 28 for Kisthwar and 36 for Reasi district.
The callousness on part of education department can be gauged from this fact that despite availability of sufficient funds and incessant thrust from union government to electrify all the school fall either in rural or urban areas, the state education department become a laggard to utilize approved funds in letter and spirit, alleged sources. |
