Despite availability of 60 Cr, govt failed to construct hostels for girl students
Srinagar: The establishment of girls hostels in educationally backward blocks seems to be a distant dream despite the Union governments approval for establishment of girls hostel in educationally backward blocks of the state.
The hostels were approved by government of India in 2011-2012 under centrally sponsored scheme- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
“But the successive regimes have failed to establish these hostels for girl students enrolled in higher secondary schools at various backward areas of the state,” an official said wishing not to be named.
The construction of 39 girls hostel in Kashmir was a major component under RMSA and were supposed to be executed in 2012.
“But the then government couldn’t process it and the construction of these buildings did not materialize upto 2016,” the official said.
He however, said the education minister in 2015 got the approval of these hostels at revised rates from Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
“The MHRD had agreed to approve these hostels at revised rates and the decision was taken in Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting for the year 2015-16,” the official said.
“But the five month long unrest in 2016 again delayed the construction of these hostels,” he said.
MHRD, officials had agreed to approve these hostels for Valley to revive the earlier scheme sanctioned in 2011-12 for the state.
“MHRD under one components of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), pertaining to construction of girls’ hostel had approved an amount of more than Rs 60 crores during the financial year 2011-12 for JK state, however the process was shelved by the previous regime with the result the funds remained unutilized for past three to four years,” the official said.
He said MHRD has sanctioned an amount of Rs 2.10 crore for construction of each Girls hostel in every block in the Valley however, there was no progress in implementation of the scheme in the state.
“The department has identified the schools in the educationally backward blocks and allocation of land was also completed, but the execution process is going at snail’s pace,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Secretary School Education Department Farooq Ahmad Shah said they have started work on hostels at various places and these constructions will be completed in a stipulated time period.
“I will seek a report from CEOs about any hiccups being faced in construction of these hostels. We are committed to provide better facilities to students enrolled in our schools,” he said.
KV Correspondent
