C'garh Assembly: Cong stages walkout twice over school issues

Opposition Congress today staged walkout from Chhattisgarh Assembly twice to protest against government's decision to rationalise state-run schools and outsourcing to fill vacant posts of school teachers.
The question for rationalisation of schools in state was raised by BJP legislator Rajmahant Sanvalaram Dahre during the Question Hour.
Dahre sought information about the schools run in Ahiwara constituency segment as well as school-wise strength of students there in 2014-15 and 2015-16. He also asked how many schools were closed in the segment under the rationalisation process.
After providing details about the schools in Ahiwara segment, the School Education Minister Kedar Kashyap said that schools were not being closed down on the basis of strength in the region under the rationalisation process.

However, the entire opposition, led by the leader of opposition T S Singhdeo and state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, alleged that in the name of rationalisation, around 3,000 schools are being closed down by the government.
"Over 80 per cent schools in tribal-dominated regions, including Bastar and Surguja, have been closed down. It is not an issue of Ahiwara only, instead children, particularly in rural areas, are suffering due to this throughout the state," Congress members said.

In response, Kashyap said government's prime objective was to provide quality education to students, particularly in remote areas.
He also said that the government has fixed criteria about distance for primary, middle-level and higher secondary schools. "The schools, which have less than 10 enrolled students, are being shut down," he said.

Singhdeo asked whether distance or number of students was considered by the government for the rationalisation process, the Minister said both criteria are being considered.
The Minister said very soon the vacant posts in rural areas will be filled and said the charge that schools in tribal areas were being closed down was incorrect.
Not satisfied over the Minister's reply, Congress members staged a walkout.