Despite a fat purse, Palike starves its schools

Paucity of funds is one excuse that BBMP cannot offer for its ill-maintained schools. The civic body sat on nearly Rs 95 crore for nine-and-a-half months meant for better infrastructure in the schools.

The money was granted to the Palike under the 22.75 per cent scheme with which various development work like construction of houses, self-employment schemes  and purchase of transport vehicles for the economically weaker sections could be undertaken.

Schools were to get better infrastructure under the scheme. However, in the last nine months, the Palike has not utilised the Rs 95 crore meant to ensure that Palike’s schools run better.

The amount was to be spent on scholarships for meritorious students living in hostels and human resource development of children through English speaking and personality development courses.

The amount was also to be used for providing financial aid to children of Group ‘D’ workers of BBMP, arranging training in institutions like Government Tool Room and Training Centre, Nettur Technical Training Foundation, National Institute of Fashion Technology and small and medium enterprises.

Also, the money was to be spent to purchase sports kits for students, holding special evening classes for students belonging to SC/ST communities, taking students on study tours, providing financial aid to students eligible for higher studies and health insurance for the children.

The chairperson of the Palike's Standing Committee on Education, B V Ganesh, told Deccan Herald that the details furnished by three zones - East, West and South - suggest that they hardly spent the Rs 35 crore given to them. "The BBMP West Zone was given Rs 12.75 crore, of which only Rs 38 lakh was spent for the physically challenged. All the eight zones have fared badly in utilising the funds meant for education," said Ganesh.

He said he has taken up the matter with Mayor S K Nataraj and Palike Commissioner Siddaiah for optimum utilisation of funds so that schools can have better infrastructure.