Karnataka to impose 1 per cent excise cess, tipplers to fund schools' renovation

Bengaluru: The state government could impose a one per cent cess on excise and registration of new properties in the coming budget to mop up resources for carrying out regular repairs in around 49,000 government schools in State if Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Tanvir Sait has his way.

Speaking to DC, Mr Sait said he had appealed to CM Siddaramaiah, who would be presenting the budget next month, to impose the cess as it could earn the government around Rs 250 crore annually. “The Finance Department has given approval for this proposal moved by the Department of Education,” he added.

Admitting that 36,000 classrooms in 49,000 government-run primary, secondary and high schools were so dilapidated that they had to be demolished in the interest of students, he said another 30,000 classrooms were in need of repair as well. “The department needs Rs 2,400 crore only to repair classrooms. So we have requested the CM to collect the one per cent cess to help us,” he said and added that though the Centre released grants to all states for construction of classrooms, toilets and providing water under Sarva Shikshana Abhiyan scheme, the money could not be used for repair of classrooms.

“We hardly have funds for maintenance of school buildings as nearly 70 per cent of our budget goes towards paying the salaries and perks of teachers,” he said.