HRD hiccups as funds dry up

The cash-trapped HRD Ministry is caught in a deep crisis with the Finance Ministry slashing Rs 800 crore from its 2002-03 budget estimates m...

The cash-trapped HRD Ministry is caught in a deep crisis with the Finance Ministry slashing Rs 800 crore from its 2002-03 budget estimates meant for the universalisation of education programme.

The Department of Expenditure’s decision of cutting down on the Rs 1,500 crore annual outlay for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan — that covers every village in the country — came as a blow to the HRD ministry for it was neither consulted nor allowed to make a case before the decision was taken.

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KHARAGPUR: The West Bengal government’s decision to fund kharezi (unrecognised) madarsas in the state through the Centre’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has run into rough weather. The Centre today said no money will be sanctioned to madarsas till they adopt a secular system of education.

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Speaking at the 48th annual convocation of IIT Kharagpur today, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi said: ‘‘We cannot sanction money to madarsas till they adopt a normal system of education. As long as they impart only religious education no money will be allotted to them through this scheme.’’

The West Bengal madarsa board has already issued circulars to kharezi madarsas to furnish information so that the government can help them. The state’s move to fund kharezi madarsas is being seen as means to win the Muslim support on the eve of panchayat polls due in March this year. The LF government’s decision came after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya faced flak for reportedly calling madarsas centres of anti-national activities last year. (Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay)

Caught in a tizzy, Secretary, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, S.C. Tripathi, today called up Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande for help. ‘‘The proposed move (of the Finance Ministry) was brought to the notice of the Cabinet Secretary. He has been requested to intervene and sort out the matter,’’ HRD ministry officials said, adding the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy is reaching an ‘‘empty-coffers’’ situation.

The HRD Department has the difficult task of implementing one of the Vajpayee Government’s key programmes — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan — through the nearly-bankrupt state governments. Education has become a right after the passage of the Bill in the last session of Parliament.

‘‘The decision has resulted in stoppage of funds to the states. We are unable to release any money. But the HRD Minister (Murli Manohar Joshi) has taken up the issue with the Finance Minister and we hope to have a reprieve,’’ a senior officials from the Department of Elementary Education said.

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But sources in the HRD Ministry said: ‘‘The reprieve would be in the nature of lesser (budget) cut in the review estimate stage. Instead of Rs 800 crore, the Finance Ministry may finally agree to slash only Rs 600 crore.’’

While the Finance Ministry is claiming that the review estimate was slashed by Rs 800 crore as the HRD Ministry could not show the plan proposals by September 2002 by which time the states should have submitted the reports, the HRD ministry said the states have not defaulted as the meeting for plan proposals took place as late as December.

The states, HRD Ministry officials said, have been undertaking a massive house-to-house survey in over 6.5 lakh villages and 5,000 towns. ‘‘They are preparing their five-year perspective plan as well as the yearly plan. It is not an easy task, it is being done for the first time. This is the minimum time required.’’

However, as many as nine states, including J-K, Orissa, Bihar, Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, are yet to submit their plan proposal.

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The HRD Ministry is caught in the crisis barely four days after the Food Corporation of India threatened to stop foodgrain supplies for its mid-day meal scheme because of a whopping arrears of Rs 500 crore.

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