Private schools seek financial support, hold protest

Members of Private Schools Association during protest at Bhaderwah. -Excelsior/Tilak Raj
Members of Private Schools Association during protest at Bhaderwah. -Excelsior/Tilak Raj

Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Oct 5: Private Schools Association Bhaderwah held protest here today and demanded financial assistance to keep the private schools afloat.
Holding a protest outside ADC office Bhadarwah, President of the Association, Neeraj Singh Manhas said that the then LG of Jammu and Kashmir G C Murmu has passed an order in June to give 3 months financial assistance to the all low budget private schools, which has not been implemented yet.
The Association submitted a representation to ADC Bhaderwah, demanding immediate implementation of the order and seeking the release of financial assistance beside 40 percent waiver on loan so that the schools can sustain functioning.
Manhas said that our schools are badly hit since last 8 months and in the present scenario most of the schools will have to close down due to financial crunch, resulting in irreparable loss to the society at large.
“Haryana, UP and other States Governments have given financial support of 60 percent to private schools to help them overcome the present unprecedented situation,” he added.
“These economical schools are caught in a dilemma. These are the schools where the fee structure doesn’t go beyond Rs 200 to Rs 700 per month per child. Their survival will be challenging post lockdown period,” said Manhas.
The Government has already ordered that schools should not force parents to clear their dues in view of the ongoing lock down, he said. “If parents don’t pay fees how will these schools pay salary to the staff,” he questions.
Meanwhile ADC Bhaderwah Rakesh Kumar said, “there is some confusion regarding fee of private schools. I will take up the matter with DDC Doda and concerned authorities. Beside I will take up the matter of financial assistance raised by Association, if any order regarding financial assistance has been passed by the Government, it should reach to them at the earliest.”
Those who were present include Sudesh Manhas, Swarn Singh Jamwal, Sunita Mahajan, Daizy Akhtar, Nazma Zahoor, Hema Beg, Vijay Raina, Zubair Ahmed, Susheel Sharma, Tilak Raj Chouhan, Ghulam Nabi Mughal and others.