PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved extending benefits of the Infrastructure Grants Loans Scheme to the special schools in the State.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the cabinet approved the amendment to revise the scheme to grant loans to special schools for their upkeep, maintenance and upgrade existing facilities.
“The scheme to finance the schools was formulated in 2002 to initiate comprehensive measures for equipping every school in the State with basic minimum infrastructure facilities,” he said. However, since there was no mention of special schools they were kept out, he said.
“Under the scheme Rs 50 lakh is given as loan-cum-grant to primary schools, Rs 1 cr to secondary schools and Rs 2 cr to higher secondary schools,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said the same scheme has now been opened only for special schools and others will not be entertained.
Under the scheme, which was closed in 2004, 176 schools had availed loans. Till date loans amounting to Rs 40.33 cr have been sanctioned.
The scheme was opened again in 2013-14 as Revised Infrastructure Grants Loan Scheme, but since there was no mention of special schools their applications were not accepted.
