NEW DELHI: For the second consecutive year, the Education Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has failed to ensure timely procurement of jerseys and other dress material for distribution among thousands of children enrolled in municipal schools before the onset of winter. Last year the civic body had handed Rs.100 to every student for purchase of jerseys, and this year too a similar arrangement is likely to be made.

Last year, when the MCD Standing Committee cleared the proposal for a grant of Rs.100 per student, it had directed senior Education Department officials that this process should not be repeated and purchase of jerseys should start early in 2006 so that these articles could be distributed before the onset of winter. But again jerseys worth Rs.4 crores could not be purchased, and now the Education Department has sought the Standing Committee's permission for distribution of cash to more than 3.5-lakh students.

"This not only highlights gross violation of prescribed norms by Education Department officials but also exposes the lackadaisical attitude of the Congress-ruled civic body in providing proper facilities to students enrolled in the municipal schools. Last year all Councillors had opposed the distribution of money to students who belong to the lower strata of society. They had feared that cash would not be utilised properly by their parents and ultimately it would be children who would suffer from this," said senior Bharatiya Janata Party Councillor and Standing Committee member Vijender Gupta.

It seems the Education Department deliberately failed to purchase jerseys this year, he alleged, adding that it was a serious matter that needed to be probed thoroughly and action should be taken against guilty officials. "A hundred rupees is not enough to purchase a jersey, but the civic body could have easily got a good deal while making bulk purchase for it. Similarly the Education Department had also promised to provide desks to students, but what they have finally received are poor quality desks. In both the cases it is the students who are bearing the brunt of the administration's failures," Mr. Gupta charged.

However, the Leader of the MCD House, Jitender Kochar, defended Education Department officials and stated that it was difficult to purchase jerseys this year as their godowns were already full and there was no storage space left. It was two years ago that raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation had revealed that jerseys and other dress material worth Rs.14 crores bought by the MCD was of poor quality. Since then the consignment was rotting in the civic body's godowns, he added.

"Keeping these difficulties in mind, we have again decided to distribute cash to students. But now we will be giving Rs.400 to each student for buying a jersey, pant, shirt and shoes and their parents will have to show purchase receipts. We have raised the amount from Rs.100 to 400 so that students can purchase good quality material. A final decision on this will be taken on Monday ," he added.

On the issue of poor quality desks, Mr. Kochar said no payment had been made to the defaulting contactor.

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