KV Correspondent

DSEK fails to clear liability of 125 Cr towards JKBOSE

DSEK fails to clear liability of 125 Cr towards JKBOSE
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Srinagar: The school education department is struggling to clear the liabilities of Rs 125 crore to JK Board of School Education (BOSE) on account of procurement of books for different classes.
The liability has got accumulated due to the difference in the actual cost and the approved rates for each set of books under erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.
“The liabilities have piled up in the education department over past many years following the nonpayment of amount to the JKBOSE. The department has not paid the amount since 2011,” an official said, adding that the delay in clearing the liability was a reason for poor standard of text books prepared by JKBOSE.
The official said the government of India has approved rates for each set of text books under SSA for class 3rd to 5th as Rs 150 while as Rs 250 has been approved for a book set from class 6th to 8th classes.
“But the expenditure of JKBOSE on these text books is more than what is provided by the school education department,” the official said.
He said the expenditure on each book set for class 3rd and 4th is Rs 290 while as a book set for class 5th costs Rs 320.
“A book set of class 6th costs Rs 425 while as 7th and 8th class book set costs of Rs 520 and Rs 505 respectively,” he added.
The official said that the BOSE authorities have taken up the issue with education department number of times but the liability has not been cleared so far.
“The liability is increasing with each passing year, few years ago the liability was Rs 105 crore and now it has got accumulated to the tune of Rs 124 crore,” the official said.
As per official figures, the school education department procures around 50 lakh text books from BOSE per annum for students from 3rd primary to 8th class.
“The education department provides funds as per the rates fixed by MHRD under SSA scheme but the cost difference amount is not released either by MHRD or education department from the past many years,” the officials said.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo admitted that education department had a liability of funds towards JKBOSE.
“Yes there is some liability towards JKBOSE but the issue is under consideration of the government. It will be paid by the government,” he said.
He further said the MHRD under Samagra Shiksha has enhanced the rates for procurement of books from JKBOSE.
“The funds provided to JKBOSE for text books have been enhanced, it will help them to improve the paper and printing quality,” he said.


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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