Bengaluru: No funds, government school students to get only one set of uniform

Bengaluru: Citing a cash crunch, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has decided not to provide government school students with a second set of uniforms next academic year. Over the years, students used to get two sets of uniforms – one from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and another from SSA. But now, they will have to manage with one set for 2019-20.

SSA officials said that this is because the central government released only 34% of the total funds allocated for various SSA programmes in the state. “For 2018-19, Rs 1,700 crore was allocated by the Centre, of which only Rs 577 crore was released. In the first phase, we got only Rs 370 crore and this has led to the present situation,” said an official, requesting anonymity. The SSA said that Rs 328 crore is needed to pay the salaries of SSA and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) teachers.

Another official said that a letter has been sent to the state government requesting additional funds. The central and state governments share the SSA budget on a 60:40 basis.

Activists pointed out that in the absence of a primary and secondary education minister, the process of allocating funds would take time. But rubbishing this claim, a senior SSA official said, “There won’t be any delay and no ongoing schemes will be affected because of the vacancy in the portfolio. The state government will act keen and responsible in this matter. It has promised to distribute books, uniforms and bicycles at the right time for the upcoming academic year,” the official said.

Mr N. Mahesh had resigned as the primary and secondary education minister on October 11. Activists have criticised the H.D. Kumaraswamy government for not finding a replacement.