Sarva Shiksha delegation meets HRD officials over pending budget

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29

A three-member delegation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers’ Welfare Association (SSATWA), Chandigarh, led by president Arvind Rana, general secretary Ajay Upmanyua and member Rom Singh Rana met officials of both, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Department of School Education and Literacy and Ministry of Finance, Government of India, the over issue of pending Rs 17-crore SSA budget of 2015-16, Rs 33 crore of 2016-17 and first instalment of 2017-18 budget, all of which are yet to be transferred by the MHRD to UT, Chandigarh.

“The officials of the MHRD informed us that within a few days, the adhoc budget of SSA, which is a part of the first instalment of 2017-18 SSA budget will be transferred to UT, Chandigarh, within a few days. The officials also confirmed that this year, complete budget of Rs 70 crore as passed in the meeting of the Project Approval Board will be transferred to the UT,” said Arvind Rana.

He further said, “As per our discussion with officials of the HRD Ministry, the Ministry has no funds for pending budget of Rs 17 and Rs 33 crore of years 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively, as the Ministry of Finance has not given funds for the same.”

“The matter can be resolved only with continuous intervention of both the UT Administrator and Adviser at the HRD Minister level,” Rana opined.