BBMP school bags: Panel chief blames official

A day after DH reported about school bags not being supplied to BBMP schools, chairperson of corporation's standing committee on education Gangamma Rajanna alleged that even though funds were allocated, most of the Palike school students have not received uniforms, books, and shoes.

Monday's DH report had exposed how a majority of 15,600 children in 156 schools under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are deprived of school bags. The reasons for this were multifold.

While some officials said a file on the requisition of school bags was lost while being forwarded from one department to another, others said a feud between the standing committee on education and the BBMP's education department had delayed the requisition process.

Gangamma blamed Ravindra S G, BBMP special commissioner (education), for the delay.

In a press meet on Monday, Gangamma said: “We have decided to call tender every three years instead of calling it every year. This will give us adequate material to distribute regularly. But because of noncooperation of BBMP officials, the students are not getting their basic requirements. Even the officer is not clearing the files on time.”

The chairperson also alleged that Ravindra was not following the direction of the standing committee, and also was not attending the meetings.

Reacting to the allegation, Ravindra said: “Uniforms, books, and shoes have been supplied to most of the schools. I will also clear all the files in 48 hours. I have attended all the meetings of the standing committee, but I have missed only two meeting."