On the road

Patna, Dec. 20: To check fake enrolment of students in government schools to avail of welfare schemes, the education department would organise camps where cycle, uniform and scholarship amounts would be disbursed among beneficiaries.

From January 15 to 30, the department would organise camps at the school-level, where the funds would be disbursed among students in the presence of school representatives, education department officials and people’s representatives.

Education department principal secretary Amarjeet Sinha said: “The idea behind disbursing funds among students in the camp was to make the entire process transparent. The process would be video-taped.”

The education department has, however, issued a few guidelines for students keen on availing of the schemes. Students having 75 per cent attendance or above between April and September would be able to avail of schemes like Mukyamantri Poshak Yojana, Mukhyamantri Balika Poshak Yojana, Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana, Mukhyamantri Balak Poshak Yojana, Mukhyamantri Balika Protsahan Yojana and scholarships under reserved category.

The school principals have been directed to submit the attendance sheets of students by December 30. Students have to sign a disbursement register in the presence of the school authorities, education department officials, parents and local representatives. The department will keep a record of the names of students, the classes, students’ addresses and their parents’ names. The data would be fed into Excel sheets and if there is any kind of duplication, a computer will be able to detect it.

Earlier this year, the education department had found that under Nitish Kumar’s much-lauded free education scheme, over 3 lakh fake enrolments were made by students to avail of the benefits of the government proposals.

The “scam” came to light when most of the enrolled students were found to have been listed in several schools simultaneously. Many students, who were enrolled in government schools, were also found to be studying in private ones.

A lot of money was allegedly siphoned off to avail of benefits like free uniform, bicycle, mid-day meal and scholarships. Earlier, the schools used to disburse amounts among beneficiaries over the year after the education department released the fund for different districts.

A student studying in Class IX is entitled to get Rs 2,500 to purchase bicycle. After getting the fund, the student can purchase a cycle of his/her choice having ISI mark. On the cycle, Balak/Balika Cycle Yojana has to be imprinted.

Under the Mukhyamantri Bihar Shatabdi Balika Poshak Yojana, girl students studying in classes IX, X, XI and XII are entitled to Rs 1,000 for purchase of school uniforms.

The other scheme for boys and girls, the Poshak Yojana aims at providing Rs 400 to students studying in classes I and II, Rs 500 for students studying in classes III, IV and V, while Rs 700 for students in classes VI to VIII.