1,125 educational institutions damaged

Education Minister Rohit Thakur yesterday said that 1,125 educational institutions had been affected due to excessive rain and the estimated loss was over Rs 59 crore. The minister said that Rs 51.13 crore had been released for disaster-related repairs in 646 schools and Rs 13.22 crore had been disbursed for 77 schools till September. Rohit chaired a meeting with senior officers and Deputy Directors of the Education Department here

The minister directed the officials to ensure prompt restoration work so that academic activities were not hampered. He said the funds received under the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) be utilised judiciously, with priority given to schools suffering more than 75 per cent damage. He added that the government would provide rent for temporary accommodation taken by damaged schools to ensure uninterrupted studies. “The Education Board will issue duplicate certificates at no fee to students whose documents had been destroyed in the disaster,” he added.

Rohit said that lecturers, who didn’t join duty at the place of their posting by September 18 would have to forfeit their promotions and the opportunity would be given to the next eligible candidates. “Indiscipline and absenteeism will not be tolerated and Deputy Directors must submit proper leave applications at the directorate level,” he added. He asked the Deputy Directors to take strict action against those found negligent in their duties.

The minister reviewed pending inquiries in sensitive cases related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, NDPS Act and financial irregularities. “Investigations must be expedited, responsibility fixed at every level and exemplary action taken to send a clear message that misconduct, corruption or dereliction of duty will not be tolerated in the Education Department,” he added.

Join duty or lose promotion

Lecturers, who don’t join duty at the place of their posting by September 18, will have to forgo their promotions and the opportunity will be given to the next eligible candidates. Rohit Thakur, Education Minister