Nellore: Private schools to demand their pound of flesh

Nellore: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's appeal to the parents to make donation of Rs 1,000 from their total benefit of Rs 15,000 under the Amma Vodi scheme towards maintenance of government schools has led private schools too demanding similar contributions. In fact, the private schools, despite having good infrastructure facilities, have started collecting contributions from parents in the name of building fund.

It may be recalled that the government deposited Rs 15,000 in the bank accounts of mothers under the Amma Vodi scheme. At the time of launching the scheme, the Chief Minister made an appeal to the beneficiaries to make a contribution of Rs 1,000 towards maintenance of government schools. Vadrevu Chinna Veerabhadrudu, Commissioner of the School Education, issued orders on Wednesday to teachers to collect contributions from the beneficiaries for maintenance of schools.

In the district, over three lakh mothers were benefitted under the scheme. It was expected that the beneficiaries would contribute around Rs. 30 crore for maintenance of the school toilets. But majority of mothers are not willing to make contribution. Very few mothers have so far come forward and responded to the appeal made by the Chief Minister.

"Even though we have requested the parents to give back Rs. 1,000 from the assistance, they are not coming forward. Out of 400 mothers of a school, only 10-15 of them till now have responded. Others are not willing to follow.," said a headmaster from Sullurpet mandal.

He felt that the government should have deducted Rs 1,000 from the benefit at the time of depositing the money in the bank accounts.

What is more, some private schools have suddenly announced increase in fees soon after the state government extended the support.

The private school managements too are demanding building fund. In fact, they have to collect the amount from the mothers who received support for toilets. But they are having good infrastructure and have been collecting high fees from the parents.

"We have paid the total fee to the school for our two children though the government extended the support for only one child. In such a case, we cannot pay the amount to the school for toilet maintenance," K Ramanamma from Bogole village in Kavali constituency said.