TEAM HERALD
CANACONA
Opposition is slowly building up against government’s plans to requisition school buses and computers for poll-related usage in the forthcoming assembly elections.
Canacona Mamlatdar (AERO for Canacona constituency) reportedly acting as per the direction of Collector (South) has sent letters to almost all the aided schools in Canacona taluka asking for details of computers in schools (availed under MPLAD funds) including its working and non-working status.
The Mamlatdar has also sought details of school buses availed by the schools under government schemes including Indira Bal-Rath.
Sources in most of the aided schools confirmed the developments and are reportedly perturbed over a sentence mentioning that school buses and computers may be called/needed for electoral purpose.
“If all the computers from the school and school buses are requisitioned for election purpose, then the students will be the most affected in terms of studies as well conveyance,” informed an aided school management source.
It may be recalled that in a similar development, Returning Officer during last Parliamentary polls (Canacona and Poinguinim assembly segments) had requisitioned almost all government vehicles from each and every departments in Canacona taluka, bringing the working of Agriculture, PWD, Veterinary, Irrigations departments, among others to a grinding halt.
Most of the requisitioned vehicles were allegedly kept stationed near Canacona Mamlatdar office without actually putting them to election use. The vehicles were later released for need-based usage of the concerned departments and recalled when needed for poll-related works.
According to school sources, providing the details/list of school buses and computers to the Mamlatdar is not an issue, but government requisitioning school buses especially Bal-Rath will be against the Indira Bal-Rath Scheme terms that these buses should not be put to use other than to transport school students.
