Kids freeze under corporation apathy

They still wait for money to buy sweaters

 Despite winter setting in, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has failed to provide money to the students of municipal schools to buy sweaters and other uniform accessories.

The civic bodies give cash of Rs 500 every year to each student to buy uniforms - including sweater, trouser, socks and a pair of shoes, in the beginning of the academic session.

The corporation, however, has failed to issue cheques to the school principals who further distribute cash to students.

The issue was raised in the House meeting of North Corporation by Mukesh Goel, opposition leader.

“Winter has already set in but the officials are insensitive towards the needs of lakhs of students studying in the municipal schools, despite knowing that they belong to the lower strata of society.

Not a single school principal, till date, has received cheque for distributing the money for uniform. However, the education department officials are misleading the House by providing wrong information that they have issued cheques to the school principals,” said Goel.

“Distribution of money for uniform is an annual practice. They have the budget sanctioned for it,” he added.

Last year, the officials said, money had reached the students by August. There are around 4.5 lakh students studying in 790 primary schools under the North Corporation.
Councillors across party lines raised concern over the issue and demanded the commissioner to disburse the money in a time bound manner.

“The fact is that money has not reached the school principals till now. Apart from uniform, students haven’t received notebooks and school desks have also not been procured.

Nothing is moving on the front of recruitment of teachers, both regular and special teachers. I have raised the issue several times before the officials concerned including the commissioner. The corporation needs to act on these issues in a time-bound manner,” said Rekha Gupta, chairperson of education committee, North Corporation.

North Delhi municipal commissioner P K Gupta sought a week’s time from the House to disburse the money.

“All principals would get the money in a week’s time. As far as the notebooks and desks are concerned, it is being reviewed and the tender process will start by this month end,” said Gupta.

Apart from that, other allowances such as Rs 120 per student for buying school bag are also yet to be disbursed.