Schools will finally get to see light
All govt schools to get electricity connections during this year
All govt schools to get electricity connections during this year
Srinagar: The school education department is all set to have all the schools electrified during the current year as the department has decided to enter into an agreement with the power development department (PDD) to provide electricity facility to the schools at minimum tariff per month.
The move has been taken as the latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2018 has depicted that 70 percent of government schools from primary to higher secondary level surveyed in the state were without an electricity connection.
As per the ASER findings, only 30 percent schools have been electrified by the department over the years.
The non-electrification of the schools in the state has raised questions of the utilisation of the annual grants provided to the schools under centrally sponsored schemes by government of India.
Also, a circular has been issued to all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) in Kashmir division who have been asked to provide electricity connection to all the educational institutions in their respective districts in a time-bound manner.
The CEOs have been asked to enter into an agreement with the PDD to equip the government schools with the facility.
As per the circular, the billing of the schools will be raised by the PDD to the concerned CEOs of the district.
“The CEOs should submit the action-taken report by or before February 15 to the directorate,” the circular reads.
Already reported, the advisor to J&K governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai said on the side-lines of a meeting that the government was committed to equip all the schools with basic facilities for the betterment of the students.
As per the present status more than 80 percent schools in Anantnag and Budgam district are without a proper electricity connection. More than 60 percent schools are un-electrified in Baramulla district and 60 percent schools are without electricity connection in Srinagar district.
Direction School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said the directorate is waiting for the status report of the CEOs about the present scenario of electricity in government schools in their districts.
“We will take up the matter with PDD at department level so that schools are given uninterrupted electricity facilities. Some of the schools are located at a distance from the villages or colonies for which we have to seek additional support from the department for erection of electric poles and wiring,” he said.
KV Correspondent
