TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Cabinet has cleared a scheme to give grants and interest-free loan of upto Rs 3.5 crore to aided schools. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said primary schools are eligible for Rs 50 lakh, secondary schools for Rs 1 crore and higher secondary schools for aid of Rs 2 crore.
Aided schools which are having any litigation with the Department are not eligible for the scheme as also schools which have defaulted on earlier scheme unless all the arrears are paid back with simple interest of 10% or interest as specified in the scheme from date of default under which they have availed the benefit.
‘I intend to give at least Rs 50 crore this year to around 30 schools,” the chief minister said, adding that he intended to finish giving grants to all eligible schools within four years.
“Fifty per cent will be given as grant and the balance will be an interest free loan that can be repaid in 15 years. Repayment will begin 9 months after the scheme,” he said.
The scheme, a follow up of the original scheme by the previous government is for government aided educational institutions for their upkeep and maintenance and upgrade the existing facilities.
The original scheme was formulated in 2002 by the government to initiate comprehensive measures for equipping every school in the State with basic minimum infrastructural facilities.
The loan is meant for the improvement of infrastructure like construction or renovation of school building, toilets, bathroom, hostel facilities, construction of playground and to purchase equipment for security of the school including CCTV. It also includes the cost of land for the purpose of construction of school building and playground, but not exceeding 50% of the total loan amount with prior permission of the department.
The expenditure on salary, consumables such as chalks, dusters, laboratory material like glass, plastic, chemicals is however not covered.
All proposals under the scheme shall be scrutinized by a committee constituting the Director of Education, Additional Director of Education, Representative of GEDC, Representative of Secretary (Finance), Joint Director of Accounts of Directorate of Education as members.
The loan amount shall be disbursed to the school managing committee of the concerned school through the GEDC. Thirty per cent of the amount shall be released immediately on issue of the sanction letter from the department. After utilization of the allotted amount, the school managing committee shall submit the report comprising utilization certificate, countersigned by chartered accountant, physical inspection and progress report countersigned by registered engineer (in formats annexed) to the Director of Education.
The balance 20% will be paid on production of a similar certificate, to the effect that the second installment of 50% has been fully utilized for the purpose, completion and occupation of the building and based on evaluation report of GSIDC to the satisfaction of the department.
Under the original scheme, 200 institutions had availed of the loan and the scheme was closed on March 31, 2004.
Loan amount
Primary: School more than 5 years old in less developed talukas and 8 years old in developed talukas shall be eligible for a loan of maximum of Rs 50 lakh.
Secondary: School more than 5 years old in less developed talukas and 8 years old in developed talukas shall be eligible for a loan of maximum Rs 100 lakh.
Higher Secondary: School more than 5 years old in less developed talukas and 8 years old in developed talukas shall be eligible for a loan of maximum Rs 200 lakh.
Composite: Under this category the entitlements will be as follows: Primary and Secondary ~ maximum of Rs 150 lakh; Secondary and Higher Secondary ~ maximum of Rs 300 lakh; Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary ~ maximum of Rs 350 lakh.
Govt firm on extended school timings
PANJIM: The government has shown resolve to stick to the seven and a half work day for teachers and said that there was no way that it was going back on its extended school timings.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told media that 70 per cent of the institutions had implemented the new timings and he would sit with the remaining 30 per cent on July 5 and sort out their difficulties.
“The government is firm, but hassles or difficulties can be resolved,” Parrikar said, adding, “I am meeting them and on a case to case basis I will listen to them. And I will sort their grievances.”
