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Govt.-aided schools, colleges observe bandh

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Schools and colleges aided by the Rajasthan Government observed a day's bandh on Monday in protest against a reduction in grants and submitted a memorandum to the Governor, Pratibha Patil, seeking her intervention in the matter in her capacity as the Chancellor of universities.

The chairman of the Swayamsevi Shikshan Sanstha Sangh, Satyavrat Samvedi, said the aided institutions in the State were on the verge of closure because of "continuous incision'' made in the grant. The 10 per cent cut introduced in 2004-05 was increased to 20 per cent in 2005-06 and orders were issued to maintain the current level of grants in future, he added.

A delegation of the Sangh, which met the Governor after a demonstration in front of the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here, pointed out that private colleges had been singled out for 30 to 40 per cent cut for the past five years and were unable to pay salary to their staff.

"Besides, the Government is treating the Students' Welfare Fund as a source of income and threatening to withdraw the grants completely,'' said Mr. Samvedi. He said this was highly objectionable in a State which makes the lowest budgetary allocation to education in the country. The Sangh has suggested that the State Government either embrace the teaching and non-teaching staff of aided institutions in its own service or pay their salaries directly from the treasury, following which the schools and colleges would willingly pay their share.

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