It is common that School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMC) often strive to get more funds for the development of their respective schools.
Contradicting this usual practice, the SDMC of Dakshina Kannada Government Higher Primary School of Mahakalipadpu here has decided to reject Rs 3.68 lakh, which was sanctioned by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for the construction of a new classroom.
The reason: Two nearby sports clubs, which are using the school playground, object the construction of new classroom citing the reason that it may reduce the boundary area of their cricket ground!
The SDMC, which was running from pillar to post to obtain funds for a new classroom, has now taken a decision to return the sanctioned amount back to the SSA due to the objections and threats by the local sports clubs.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, SSA Deputy Project Co-ordinator Shivaprakash said that Rs one lakh was already handed over to the SDMC in October 2009 and remaining Rs 2.68 lakh is with the Block Resource Centre. “The SDMC did not initiate the construction work of the new classroom building even after four months. Hence, we sent a notice to the school authority on March 6 seeking clarification,” he said.
SDMC President Ramadas Pandeshwar said that their efforts to convince the members of the sports clubs went futile. “The contractor and labourers started the foundation marking work on January 20. However, marking stones were destroyed by the miscreants on same day. Though we were ready to change the place of construction, members of another sports club were not ready to agree. We did our best to convince the sports club members for the construction of classrooms. Now we are forced to return the amount due to the objection from people,” he lamented.
School Headmistress Bharathi said that the matter was brought to the notice of the department officials and people’s representatives. Nothing has been done so far even after a committee headed by three corporators Vijayalakshmi, Premanand Shetty and Raveendra was formed to find solution to the issue. “We need additional classrooms for the school, since the government is all set to introduce the ‘Nali-Kali’ scheme in third standard from the next academic year,” she said.
Unfortunately, the SDMC does not dare to file a police complaint against the club members, even though 17 cents of land belongs to the school and the remaining land belongs to the MCC. As a result, the dreams of 73 students and four teachers in the 85-year-old school, to have a new classroom may not be a reality in near future, if people’s representatives do not become proactive now.