Sarva Siksha Abhiyan officials fail to spend allotted funds

Sarva Siksha Abhiyan officials fail to spend allotted funds
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At a time when sanction of budgetary funds is becoming increasingly difficult, hundreds of crores of rupepes lying with the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan have remained unspent because of alleged reluctance on the part of officials. Even as the financial year is nearing completion, one-fourth of SSA funds have not been spent, adding to the problems of the students pursuing primary education.

Anantapur: At a time when sanction of budgetary funds is becoming increasingly difficult, hundreds of crores of rupepes lying with the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan have remained unspent because of alleged reluctance on the part of officials. Even as the financial year is nearing completion, one-fourth of SSA funds have not been spent, adding to the problems of the students pursuing primary education.

If the amounts are utilised there is every possibility that the government schools can match the corporate institutions. Because of official indifference and negligent attitude hundreds of students are being deprived of the minimum facilities. Last year as much as Rs 286.41 crore was sanctioned to Anantapur district which has 3,938 government schools with 375,759 students. Of the amount only Rs.71.44 crore was spent. Of the Rs.53.16 crore allotted for civil works and construction of class rooms, only Rs.26.17 crore has been utilised.

While Rs.34.55 lakh has been set apart for the special category villages and residential hostels, an expenditure of Rs.17.26 has been incurred. Of the Rs.63.13 lakh earmarked for enrolment of students and training of teachers, Rs. 23.69 lakh has been spent. Of the sanctioned Rs.12.19 crore for students’ uniform, Rs.12.09 crore has been utilised. Out of Rs.11.38 crore allotted for academic improvement, block resource centres, URCs, an expenditure of only Rs.2.62 crore has been incurred. Of the Rs.4.6 crore set apart for the cluster resource centres, so far Rs.3.62 core has been spent.

While the 62 Kasturba Gandhi Girls Schools got Rs.45.11 crore, the amount expended so far is only Rs.25.24 crore. Even the funds for the Rashtriya Madhyamika Siksha Abhiyan have remained in cold storage. The official negligence is evident from the expenses incurred for building 25 model schools in the district. Of the Rs.75 crore sanctioned for the last three years, Rs.60 crore has been spent till date.

Another area neglected is the girls hostel set-up which received Rs.32 crore; but only Rs.12.27 crore has been spent. Leaders of several student organisations have expressed displeasure over the failure of SSA officials to spend the allotted funds, leading to non-creation of facilities for students.On their part, officials, while admitting non-expenditure of amounts, contend that they would be utilised in future.

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