Guidelines cleared for involving corporate groups, NGOS, NRIS

THE STATE CABINET HAS APPROVED COMPREHENSIVE GUIDELINES FOR INVESTMENT OF CSR, CHARITY FUNDS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

CHANDIGARH:THE Punjab government has decided to involve corporate houses, industrial houses, non-governmental organisations (NGOS) and NRI organisations in improvement of infrastructure in government schools in the state.

The state cabinet took this decision at a meeting held on Thursday under the chairmanship of chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

The cabinet has approved comprehensive guidelines/ instructions for investment of corporate social responsibility (CSR)/ charity funds in government schools to make them active partners in the development of the state. A government spokesperson said an institutional mechanism would be set up and school development committees would be constituted for each school.

COMMITTEE TO MONITOR FUND USE

The committee has been mandated to monitor the working of schools, preparing and recommending development plans, and monitoring the utilisation of grants received from corporate houses, industrial houses, NGOS and NRIS as CSR fund/charity.

As per the guidelines, these organisations can participate in construction of buildings, rooms, toilets and libraries in schools.

They can also contribute for purchase of books for school library, IT equipment for smart classrooms, computers, tablets or any other IT infrastructure with pre-loaded, latest software.

599 TEACHERS GIVEN APPOINTMENT LETTERS

Education minister OP Soni handed over appointment-cumoffer letters to 257 English and 342 Hindi language teachers. Appointment letters were given to 2,082 teachers in Amritsar, of the total 3,582 teachers, whereas the matter relating to English and Hindi subject teachers went to court. “After the court’s verdict, appointment letters were given to the remaining teachers,” a spokesperson said.

The minister also asked the protesting teachers to come on the negotiating table for a resolution of their demands, instead of resorting to an agitation. “When the government is ready to accept the legitimate demands of teachers, then there should be no reason for teachers to go on an agitation,” he added.