Pul apprises Irani of dismal educatiol infrastructure

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, April 9: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul met Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Smriti Irani on Thursday and apprised her on the poor education scerio of the state. Highlighting on poor infrastructure support for education, the chief minister informed that several government schools and colleges lack sufficient infrastructures and all-weather buildings, an official release said here today.

He said many of these buildings were constructed during the union territory days, which have outlived their lifespan and needed complete renovation.

Also many schools and colleges didn’t come even close to having basic facilities such as proper toilet facilities each for girls and boys, proper kitchen and dining facilities, a playground and a library with sufficient reading material, adequate classrooms, electrification, hostels and teachers’ quarters.

To meet the infrastructure requirements, Pul informed that a realistic proposal taking feedbacks and inventory reports from all the districts, sub-divisions and administrative blocks are being prepared, which will eble the government to have complete information on the requirements of each school in the state.

“The requirements then will be met according to a comprehensive plan that will outline all the basic minimum facilities an education institute should have. This has been done to achieve the goal of uniform standard education system across the state,” he said.

However, funding was a big constraint in achieving the targeted plan for education sector as state has limited resource base, the CM said and appealed the minister for a one-time special package.

The minister assured to give backup and full support to the state government’s endeavour and asked if the state could come up more ideas and plans to bring improvement in the education sector, the report said.

Irani furtrher said the state could give more priority to adult education and suggested that the ministry could also publish a story on Pul’s childhood struggle on education, which would serve as source of inspiration for many.

On higher and technical education, Pul urged on establishment of Institutions of tiol repute like AIIMS, lIT, IIM and Law School in the state. He also requested the minister to make functiol the state university at Pasighat, which could not take off owing to paucity of funds.

Apprising her on the delay in disbursement of two months salary for 9803 SSA functiories in the state, he informed that for SSA salary, the state government has already released its state-matching share of Rs 3310.92 lakhs for the current fincial year.

He informed that the state government is now awaiting the release of centre’s matching share of Rs 7079.40 lakhs in addition to its earlier grant of Rs. 181179.44 Lakhs.

Pul requested the minister for release of the rest-matching share at the earliest so that plight of the SSA teachers could be addressed to which the HRD officials informed that the balance amount would be disbursed soon.

The minister assured centre’s all support to the state government informing that PM Modi has accorded special consideration for Aruchal and all the north eastern states, the release added.