PANJIM: The Directorate of Education has decided to allot 84 closed government primary school buildings and lands, within its jurisdiction, as permanent space to various other government departments and autonomous bodies, which are currently functioning from rented premises.
The closed school buildings and lands will be allotted under State government approved scheme to provide unused school land and buildings to the non-profit institutions and social organization. The scheme, notified on July 22, was approved by the cabinet on June 23.
In a circular issued on Thursday, Director Education Bhushan Savaikar said that under the scheme, government has taken decision to give priority to the government departments and autonomous bodies for allotment of land and buildings.
“The Directorate has listed out 84 closed school buildings and land for allotment to enable the government departments and autonomous bodies to shift their offices functioning in the rented premises,” he said.
Savaikar said that the allotment will be done on case to case basis with the approval of the government. The government has constituted a High Powered Committee under Education Minister, who will scrutinize the applications received from non-profit institutions and social organization and recommend it for allotment.
“There is no need for government departments and autonomous bodies to apply under the scheme,” the director said.
Savaikar has asked the Heads of the Departments to furnish the requirements within 15 days.
A total of 15 closed government school buildings from Ponda are listed for allotment, followed by 12 each in Pernem and Quepem taluka, 11 in Bicholim, 10 in Sattari, eight in Sanguem, six each in Dharbandora and Canacona and four in Bardez taluka.
While notifying the scheme, the Directorate said that with the improved transportation, people moved to towns and cities for better facilities, including education and such migration lowered enrolment in many rural areas that led to closure of many schools.
The scheme aims to provide better use of the unused school premises and to provide infrastructural support to the registered non-profit educational institutions for running the institutions. To such organization, the premise will be rented out on minimal rent.
