Govt finally grants Rs 132 cr for shoes

Sanjay R Murty | NT
Bengaluru

The Department of School Education and Literacy has approved a grant of Rs 132 crore towards socks and shoes for schoolchildren. The move came after the department and the state education minister were criticised for not being able to provide shoes and socks to students.

Over 47 lakh students studying government schools in the state will be benefited from the grant. In a statement, the department has said that the choice between shoes and sandals can be made in accordance with the climate of the school’s location.

The department has entrusted the School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMC) with the purchase and distribution of shoes and socks. The school’s principal and three members nominated from the SDMC will be part of the Shoe, Socks and Sandals Purchase Committee in each school. The committee would be headed by the President of the SDMC and carry out the purchase of one pair of shoes/sandals and two pairs of socks locally.

A poor record
The SDMCs have an uneven track record across the government schools and PU colleges in the state, and students are even charged a development fee. One of the main purposes that these committees is to attract the participation of local donors, trusts and NGOs to develop the school/college.

However, the fact that a development fee, albeit a nominal amount, is charged from students reflects poorly on the functioning of these committees. This fee is separate from the regular school fee that the students are charged.

While the fee is remitted to the Department of School Education, the committees have a say in the spending of development fees collected from students.

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DKS, Siddu attack Govt

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D.K. Shivakumar had criticised the state government’s delay in providing shoes and socks to children. He said his party would beg with the people of the state for funds.

“If the government does not have the money to provide shoes and socks to schoolchildren, then the Congress party will beg the people before the state and collect the necessary funds,” Shivakumar said. “Under the Congress, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had implemented CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).We will distribute shoes and socks to the children of the state. This is a matter of the pride and honour of Karnataka and an issue concerning the lives of children. I am ready to take responsibility for this. The Congress party is ready to set up a programme for this,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah also weighed on the issue, and attacked Education Minister B.C. Nagesh remarks that children don’t come to school for shoes and socks. “The statement of the Education Minister has stunned the entirety of the state of Karnataka. Our children have brought laurels to this country. People who studied in government schools in rural areas are well placed in many countries of the world. The education minister has no knowledge of this,” he said.

“The government has been providing shoes and socks to children for a long time. Doesn’t the education minister wear nice clothes?” he added.

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AAP attacks Nagesh for his remarks, demands resignation

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Karnataka came down heavily on state Education Minister B.C. Nagesh for his remark that children don’t come to school for shoes and socks. AAP leader Bhaskar Rao claimed that scores of children have dropped out of schools, adding that the State government was to blame for this.

He also demanded that Education Minister BC Nagesh should resign. Bhaskar Rao said: “Different departments have mentioned in their reports to the High Court that about 10.12 lakh children under the age of 14 have dropped out from government schools and anganwadis. BBMP has identified that in Bengaluru a total of 720 children have dropped out of schools, out of which 534 children are into begging and 186 children are working. We have decided to appeal to the Governor to dismiss Education Minister B C Nagesh from the cabinet, as he and the education department have failed to take measures to attract children into the schools.”

He remarked that it was ‘condemnable’ that the BJP government failed to provide cycles, shoes, socks etc to the students which were provided in previous years. “Instead they have involved themselves in controversies like the hijab row, textbook revision and others. Government school buildings are in appalling condition and the students are scared to sit in such classrooms,” Rao added.

Aam Aadmi Party’s women’s wing pr