Students await govt travel funds to attend school
NO FUNDS Govt has not released budget to Barmer under Transport Voucher Scheme
BARMER: The education department in Barmer is awaiting this year’s budget for the Transport Voucher Scheme.
The scheme, started by the former BJP government, aimed to promote girl child education in rural areas of Rajasthan. Under the scheme, the state government provided actual fare or maximum Rs 20 per day to girls studying in government primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary schools in rural areas. The scheme benefitted students whose schools existed more than 5km away from their houses.
During its tenure, the BJP government ensured fund for the scheme, but with the change in power, the ruling Congress government seems to be ignoring budget for it.
Harikrishan Aacharya, chief education officer in Barmer, said that though the department has got approval for the scheme from the government, but this year’s budget was awaited. “We have sent the budget requirement to the government. As the decision will be taken at higher level and only higher authorities will release the budget, I cannot comment about the time by when we will get the budget and transfer it to the beneficiaries’ account,” he said.
Aacharya admitted that nonavailability of budget for the scheme may affect the beneficiaries. “Scheme was launched to facilitate those children who are not able to afford daily transportation. Due to budget unavailability, there are chances of drop out, as there may be some children who cannot afford daily transportation,” he said.
Education department data revealed that in Barmer, 58,000 children belonging to classes 1 to 8 availed the Transport Voucher Scheme for 43 days in 2017-18 and for 132 days in 2018-19.
Besides, 69 girls of classes 9 to 12 also availed the scheme for 69 days in 2017-18 and 132 days in 2018-19.
UNDER THE TRANSPORT VOUCHER SCHEME, GOVT GIVES ACTUAL TRAVEL FARE OR MAXIMUM ₹20 PER DAY TO GIRL STUDENTS STUDYING IN RURAL AREAS