Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 3: In an innovative strategy designed to address a serious challenge faced by education sector district administration, in Reasi district of J&K, constructed 527 abandoned school projects through community participation and convergence of various departments.
Ever since 2006-07 these schools could not be constructed due to high cost involved, non-agreement of Village Education Committees (VECs), cost escalation and difficult terrain and prevailing situation in higher reaches. Out of these, 338 school buildings were not taken up for construction due to high cost involved compared to funds allocated under Sarva Shiksha Abhyan and remaining due to difficult conditions. Likewise 283 girls toilets were also taken up for construction and completed.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Dr Shahid Iqbal along with Assistant Commissioner Development Joginder Singh Rai, successive Chief Education Officers Tarsem Lal and Ashok Kumar Sanyal, Tesildars and Zonal Education Officers took this challenge as an opportunity and completed construction of record 527 schools in one year which were awaiting construction since 2006-07.
An allocation of Rs 6.87 lakh was made under SSA for construction of each school unit while cost of construction estimated in this hilly region ranged from Rs 9.25-10.15 lakh because of cost escalation, head load to be carried upto 10-30 Km to site of construction and lack of availability of material locally. Owing to this the VECs did not take up construction of units allotted for the district in last 7 years which remained abandoned till June 2013 when the Deputy Commissioner worked out the shortfall of funds for each school unit and decided to construct these schools in convergence with MGNREGA and pooling community resources through labour donation and provision of local material.
The DC and his team of officers held a month long series of meetings with more than 500 VECs in 6 Educational Zones and convinced them for construction of school units through community participation and additional funds provided under MGNREGA and district plan. Meetings were organised in all village Panchayats which actively participated in the project and facilitated completion of each unit.
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