Unpaid bills: 9,278 schools in Maha without electricity

MUMBAI: While the central government is trying to implement digital education across the nation, around 9,278 schools in Maharashtra are without electricity due to unpaid bills. The students are affected as they cannot use any electronic devices for studying or doing projects.

As per the official data, electricity bills worth ₹25 crore are pending from these schools. While the power supply to 6,752 schools has been cut off from the main line, the electricity meter in the remaining 2,526 schools was disconnected.

A school teacher from Nasik Zilla Parishad school said, “For the last five months, some of the teachers have contributed and paid ₹6,450 for the bills. There are many schools where teachers always follow this practice.”

Despite spending from their pocket, the state does not reimburse these teachers, he said.

As per the rules, electricity bills are paid by the state government but disbursed by the Zilla Parishad, gram panchayat or the primary education department. However, since August 2022, respective authorities from sev- eral districts are unable to pay electricity bills for lack of funds received from the state.

Sharad Gosavi, director, of primary education said, “We demanded around ₹40 crores from the government to clear off the pending dues and funds which can be paid till March.”

Bhausaheb Chaskar, an edu- cation activist, said, “While we are talking about digital India and online education under the New Education Policy (NEP), how can schools function with- out electricity?”

In April 2022, then deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that the funds required for Zilla Parishad schools can be provided in the budget for the year. Regarding the tariff, Pawar had said that the electricity regula- tory commission will also make sure that electricity connections in schools are put in a separate category – similar to that for residential and commercial pur- poses. However, none of this has been implemented till now.

Both Girish Mahajan, Minis- ter of Rural Development, and Deepak Kesarkar, Minister of School Education, were unavail- able for comment.

Pending amount in ȕ(approx)