Will welfare schemes continue? Students keep fingers crossed

CHENNAI: With the change in guard in Tamil Nadu, doubts are being raised from various quarters whether all the student welfare schemes, implemented during the last ten years of the AIADMK regime, would be continued.

At present, there are over 15 major welfare schemes, meant for both students of government schools and State-run colleges, which were implemented at a cost of more than Rs 5,000 crore every year. Major freebies such as laptops, uniforms, and bicycles contribute more than 60 per cent of the budget meant for student welfare measures.

A senior official from the School Education Department, seeking anonymity, told DT Next that tender has been floated during mid-2020 itself to procure items including 5.3 lakh laptops.

“The tenders were also been finalised and in some cases, the amount has been given for the first set of items. If the new government continues to implement these schemes there will not be an issue, else, companies that procured the order from the government to supply freebies could move the court,” he said.

Pointing out that the distribution of eggs in the student noonmeal scheme was initiated during the previous DMK regime, the official said the scheme was continued by the AIADMK government. “Even if the new government brings modification on the existing scheme, there would be no major issue,” he added.

The official also said a separate department called Special Programme Implementation was constituted to monitor the welfare schemes. “However, one has to wait and see whether this department would remain,” he added.

Welcoming the new government, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran urged the DMK regime to continue all the student welfare schemes. “During the last ten years, several crores of students have benefited from the freebies and other welfare schemes,” he said.

Echoing similar views, Joint Action Council of College Teachers convenor R Dhamothran pointed out that the free laptop distribution had helped lakhs of students in the State-run schools to participate in the online classes during the pandemic lockdown. “In addition, the free internet data helped students attend the virtual sessions,” he said.