80,000 school students yet to be provided bags, stationery

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 27

Around 80,000 students of primary and middle classes in government schools here are yet to be get bags and stationery under a government scheme though five months of the present academic session have passed. Parents have reportedly been asked to arrange bags and stationery for their wards on their own till the schools are able to provide these.

“We have been told that the school is yet to receive the grant for purchasing bags and stationery and it is not clear when it will be received,” says Suresh Kumar, a parent from Ballabgarh. “Many parents like me have purchased bags and stationery from the market though the school is required to give the material under the Sarv Shiksha Ahbhiyan of the government,” he adds.

Students of Class I to VIII in all government schools are provided free bags and stationery in the beginning of the session from funds provided by the Education Department. The money is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the school management committees of all schools.

A school management committee consists of a head teacher or principal, representatives of parents and members of the panchayat or local civic body, besides eminent persons. The amount fixed for the purpose includes Rs 120 for a bag and Rs 100 for stationery for students of Class I to V standard; Rs 150 for a bag and Rs 100 for stationery for students of Class VI to VIII standard. There are around 380 schools in the district but the problem is statewide.

Chatar Singh, treasurer of the Haryana Primary School Teachers Association, says the delay in release of funds for purchasing bags and stationery has created problems for students and their parents. An official says there is no deadline for the purpose and they expect funds to be released anytime.