Red tapism delays Central scheme for girl students

Meanwhile,the Education Department took nearly four months to send a circular to the commissioner of schools,who,in turn,took another 36 days to send it to the DEO. The Dena Bank regional officer received the circular (to open bank accounts) on February 13,2009. The Ahmedabad DEO received the circular on April 9 and subsequently sent it to schools on June 16-a further delay of 18 days.

The commissioner of schools sent another circular to the DEO on June 18 for opening bank accounts,which was forwarded to the schools a day later. The schools were then asked to open bank accounts and submit details to the DEOs on June 22. Yogesh Mishra,the vice-president of Ahmedabad City Secondary and Higher Secondary Staff Federation,said: “The schools received the circular on the evening of June 18. Many day schools had closed by then and only received it on June 20,but the girls and their parents were not informed in advance to bring the required documents for use that day. The next day was a Sunday,which left only one day at hand for schools to open bank accounts. The circular was delayed by 65 days to reach the commissioner of schools office from the Education Department,which are adjacent to each other. The schools should be given at least 10 days time to open the accounts.”

Meanwhile,Ishwar Singh,deputy secretary to Government of India,who had sent the circular,said: “In the last 11 months,we repeatedly sent reminders,even at the level of joint secretary. But even if they send us the proposal along with this year’s details,we will accommodate it and release the grant money. This is a good scheme,but I don’t understand why the state government is so reluctant to send the bank account details. Only Mizoram and the Union Territory of Dadar and Nagar Haveli have sent the details.” Hasmukh Adhia,Secretary,state Education Department,said: “We did not receive the original circular for the first few months and only when we received the reminder in October did we get to know that such a scheme has been introduced. We contacted the Centre and took immediate action. We are late due to procedural delays,but will still be among the first few states to avail the benefit.”

Incentive for Secondary Education
The scheme was launched as an addition to the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme and provides a monetary benefit of Rs 3,000 that has to be deposited in the name of every unmarried SC,ST and OBC girl who passes Class VIII and enrols for Class IX in any government,government-aided or local civic body-run school. The rule is slightly different for Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya students who are entitled to the benefits even if they do not belong to SC/ST /OBC categories. The scheme was applicable from the academic year 2008-09 onwards. The schools were required to submit details of eligible students and open bank accounts in their name within a month of launch of the scheme,while a consolidated proposal was to be submitted within 3 months.