Rout questions Grant-in-aid policy

BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJD member and former minister Damodar Rout on Thursday embarrassed the Government by questioning its grant-in-aid policy for educational institutions under private management. Taking strong exception to the manner in which the Government is dealing with the agitating teachers of block grant schools, Rout said if the Government can provide Rs.5,000 to each pregnant woman there is no logic in denying full grant to block grant schools. “Why has the Government announced special assistance to pregnant women when they are covered under the integrated child development scheme (ICDS),” he wondered. If the Government has resources to provide Rs.5,000 to each expectant mother, it  should not deny the fair deal to the teachers who have been agitating for their just demands for over two weeks. The Government is ready to provide substantial amount for pregnant women, the amount which could have been diverted for payment of regular salary to secondary teachers, he said. According to an estimate, the Government will provide Rs.145 crore for expectant mothers per annum and nearly seven lakh of them are likely to benefit. Education is a state subject and it is the responsibility of the State Government to take care of the education sector. Alleging that education sector is in utter neglect, the former minister said Class-VIII was opened in many upper primary schools without appointing teachers. While many primary schools are running with single teacher, teachers of many secondary schools are receiving only 40 per cent of the salary under the revised pay scale. He was also critical of the Government policy for according recognition to a large number of high schools when states like Gujarat and West Bengal with more population than Orissa have lesser number of schools in comparison.  Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh raised the issue in the Assembly after the debate on adjournment motion on drought. Expressing concern over the plight of the agitating teachers of 1,893 block grant schools, he urged the Speaker to direct the Government to settle their demands. Senior NCP leader Amar Satpathy also demanded a statement from the School and Mass Education Minister on the issue. He regretted the Government direction to lodge an FIR against the agitating teachers.