Bhattal hits out at Punjab govt over funding to schools

Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today lashed out at the Parkash Singh Badal led government over its alleged failure to provide funds to government schools in the state under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.
Bhattal said "Due to Punjab government's failure to pool in its share of 25 per cent under SSA scheme, the Centre has refused to release funds owing to present regime's negligence".
"Non-releasing of funds by the Centre under SSA has adversely impacted the functioning of primary and upper primary schools across the state," the former CM said in a statement here.

She said in a number of schools in the state the power and water supply has been disconnected owing to non-payment of bills for the want of funds.
She said the situation was worse with there being reports of school staff and locals engaged in transporting water to the schools situated in the concerned areas.
Besides, schools in need of repair and maintenance had also been badly hit as they have no funds to carry out any sort of repair works, she said, adding, schools have been put in precarious situation due to the fund crunch.

According to Bhattal, the state government should take immediate steps to contribute its 25 per cent share in the SSA and ensure release of funds from the Centre to streamline the functioning of schools in the state.

She also said the SAD-BJP government had failed on all fronts and the people of state have also become sick of the present regime.
"The state is financially bankrupt with coffers being virtually empty resulting in hampering of development in various sectors," she said.