Cash scrap takes toll on schools

Mahbubnagar: The State government has recalled Rs 18 crore meant for maintenance and development of schools in the district following the demonetisation of high-value currency notes.

The fund was meant for development of 1,830 schools in the district.According to District Education Officer, the government had taken back the unused funds from the school accounts and was planning to reallocate to all the schools based on the proposals sent by them from time to time.

The reason for recalling funds from the schools accounts is mainly attributed to the demonetisation of high-value currency notes. The schools are now facing fund crunch for maintenance and development activities.

“Majority of schools used to ahve funds in their accounts. Apart from it, headteachers of the schools had also deposited money given by donors in the same accounts. All those funds have now been taken back by the government,” said a headteacher of a Zilla Parishad High School in Vollur village.

“As the schools have not utilised the funds, the government had taken the funds back and would deposit the amount soon based on the proposals by the schools. This year, the Central government had not released funds to the schools because of underutilisation of funds.

However, we will send a detailed report on the maintenance , building construction and other activities being taken up in the schools and accordingly will try to get back all the funds very soon and see that no school will suffer from fund crunch for their development,” said Somi Reddy, District Education officer, Mahbubnagar.