Classes begin, students await ‘free’ books Dispur promised

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 3: Generous with promises, but stumbling badly in implementation — for years on end, this has been the sorry tale of the State Education department. Year 2017 is not likely to be different either, with little hope for students of government schools getting their hands on their full complement of textbooks in January month. This despite the academic session having begun from January 2.    

Even though the Education department had announced with much fanfare that free textbooks would reach the students by December 25 last, a majority of government school students in the State are yet to receive their textbooks. The reason? The paper production company chosen by the State government has failed to supply paper to the printing presses for printing of textbooks. As a result, around 50 percent textbooks are yet to be printed.

As per information available, the 55 printing presses which were ordered to print textbooks, have failed to print the same because Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has failed to supply sufficient quantity of paper.

The Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Ltd (ASTPPC) had signed an MoU with HPCL for supply of 11,500 metric tonne paper to the 55 printing presses, but till date the presses are yet to receive as much as 7,100 metric tonne paper.

Even though several bidders from outside the State had expressed interest when tenders were invited, the government decided to award the contract to Assam-based HPCL for reasons best known to it. After it became clear that HPCL will not be able to supply the full quantity of paper as per the MoU, another tender was invited to which no party responded.

The authorities are now planning to invite tenders again on January 6. In case bids are received, the selected supplier will have to provide the paper to printing presses within 20 days, as per the new condition set by the government.

The question is — if no supplier comes forward, what then? Will students be forced to go without textbooks longer?

Of the total requirement of 3.25 crore textbooks, 2.17 crore are required for primary and upper primary students and 1.08 crore for class IX and X students.

In the MoU signed with HPCL, the company was to supply the full quantity of paper within 40 days. It has been learnt that of the total 3.25 crore textbooks required, only 1.5 crore textbooks have been printed so far — of which 1.35 crore textbooks are for students from class I to VIII and the remaining 15 lakh textbooks are for class IX and X.

This means that 1.75 crore textbooks are still to be printed, and there is knowing how soon this shortfall will be met.

ASTPPC Maging Director Partha Pratim Mazumadar has pinned the blame squarely on HPCL for the shortfall. “We are not liable for this shortfall. Rather, we took care to ensure that textbooks of three key subjects MIL, English and Mathematics for classes I to VIII were printed first. Similarly, we got English, Mathematics and General Science textbooks for classes IX and X were printed first so that classes can at least begin smoothly,” said Mazumdar.

The printed textbooks have already been dispatched to the Education block offices for distribution, added Mazumdar. He also said free textbook distribution programme for class IX and X will be launched on January 5.  It may be mentioned that with the aim to increase enrolment in State-funded schools and reduce the dropout rate, the Assam government had decided to provide free textbooks to students of classes IX and X from 2017-18 academic year onwards.