GPCC slams education department for negligence

Under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan, students of grade eight are eligible to receive free textbooks. However, Gujarat State Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has claimed that for six years around 15,000 schools with over 9 lakh students have not received the due money and textbooks allotted to them under this scheme.

According to GPCC spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi, "Around Rs58 crore has been allotted for students of grade 8 under this scheme. However, besides the money, even the textbooks are vanishing before they reach the schools and students. They are being found in scrap with scrap dealers. The state government is not taking action against corrupt officials and is protecting them instead."

Dr Doshi added, "To ensure that education is available for all, under the 11th five-year plan, allocation for education has been increased by five times. Under the above scheme, the state government in the last decade has allotted Rs1,63,187.42 lakh, which has been used by government officials for everything else but education for children, especially the needy."

Dr Doshi alleges that there is corruption germinating within the education department and it is surviving because higher ups are protecting it. GPCC has demanded that the government act promptly and immediately penalise guilty officials.