TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Aided schools can have their own buses to ferry students from June, as the government has floated a scheme to this effect, while also providing a one-time grant of Rs 3 lakh towards operational and maintenance costs.
The buses can be used for transporting children for educational trips and school related activities. The PTA will also have to certify the usage of the buses which need to be maintained for a minimum period of seven years.
“The schools have to run the buses and maintain them. In addition they have to submit a certificate from the chartered accountant on the utilisation of the fund failing, which no further maintenance grants will be given, said Chief Minister and Education Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday.
He was replying to a resolution moved by former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Opposition leader Pratapsing Rane. While Rane expressed concern over the functioning of buses, Kamat asked for giving additional buses to aided schools having more than 500 students.
The chief minister said that he was not averse to giving more buses to schools and the new scheme formulated earlier this year would incorporate this. He however insisted that the buses should cater to children located in the school’s neighbourhood and not beyond.
Rs 2 lakh maintenance grant will be given in June and the balance Rs 1 lakh will follow by December. The utilisation of grants certificate from the CA will have to be submitted by September next year.
“The school will have to appoint their own drivers and conductors and take due care while making such appointments,” Parrikar said.
A similar scheme for government schools is also in the pipeline and would be implemented through the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited.
“The KTCL can tie up with private operators,” said Parrikar again stating that due care has to be taken on the condition of the vehicles, drivers and conductors while entering into agreements.
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