Dy CM reviews functioning of minority residential schools

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali conducted a review meeting with officials on overall functioning and progress of the residential schools being run by Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society (TMREIS) at his chambers in Secretariat on Tuesday.

The agenda points included overall appraisal of functioning of residential schools, status of student strength in the schools, availability of teaching and non-teaching staff, possession of lands allotted for construction of residential schools in the districts, utilization of budget and on recent incidence of suicides in the schools.

Responding to the agenda points, TMREIS officials clarified that, currently 48,000 students (boys and girls) are admitted in 201 minority residential schools across the state.

Elaborating on the steps being taken in ensuring quality food for the students, Secretary, TMREIS said that based on the guidelines formed therein the Joint Collectors of respective districts are authorised for procurement of food provisions and selection of contractors for preparation of food in the schools by TMREIS, by a transparent process of tenders.

In recent times on noticing instances of irregularities on the part of the few selected contactors, TMREIS has been decided to remove the contractors and to release the funds directly to the Principals.

Presently teaching and non teaching staff was appointed on outsourcing basis, while TSPSC is taking necessary steps for selection of regular staff very soon. Secretary, TMREIS proposed to appoint 10 District Coordinators in erstwhile districts as nodal officer between schools and the Head Office and to increase the number of staff in the HOD as there are only 39 posts (20 regular and 19 outsourcing) are sanctioned.

Responding to the reported suicide cases of students the officials clarified that in two cases, studies were committed on personal reasons and not due to any difficulty or inconvenience suffered by them in the School.

With regard to the status of allocation of lands to the first phase 71 schools, land for 45 schools has been taken possession, for which the President, TMREIS suggested to construct compound walls to safe guard the same from encouragements.

Responding to the same, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the officials to submit proposals for necessary sanctions with regard to the proposed appointment of District Coordinators, sanctioning of more posts at TMREIS head office, construction of walls around 45 allotted lands, etc. He also directed to complete the work expeditiously of identifying the land of 2 to 5 acres in 121 newly started schools.

The officials who attending the review meeting included TMREIS President A.K. Khan, Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Syed Omer Jaleel, TMREIS Secretary Shafiullah and TSMFC Chairman Akbar Hussain.