Centre accords recurring subsidy for SC/ST primary schools: UPCC

Lucknow, Aug 4 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Congress today announced that the Central government has accorded sanction of recurring subsidy for at least 1,000 Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe (SC/ST) primary schools in the state.

Announcing this at a press conference here, UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said of the total 3,000 SC/ST primary schools in the state, the Centre had already sanctioned recurring subsidy to 1,000 such schools, while rest would also be taken for consideration.

She said these SC/ST schools set up in the state after the Independence, were in a shabby state and about 30,000 teachers were not receiving their salaries. Till 1994, 600 schools were taken in the state grant list, but the present Mayawati government even refused to give them any funds. ''During a court hearing, demanding grants for these SC/ST schools, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government had clearly stated that the state government have no funds to run these schools,'' Ms Joshi stated.

The state Congress president thanked party general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Union Social Welfare Minister Meira Kumar for sanctioning the recurring subsidy for these schools.

Ms Joshi said the present BSP government was not at all concerned about the uplift of the Dalits and the Chief Minister was making all efforts to stall the projects meant for the benefit of the oppressed section.

'' Government funds could be used for construction for memorials and statues, but not for running the SC/ST schools shows the biased committment of the BSP towards the Dalits, the Congress leader charged, adding that Ms Mayawati was only using Dalits as a vote bank power.

She also alleged that Ms Mayawati was also not replying to the letters of the Union Social Welfare Department about atrocities on the dalits under Prevention of Atrocities Act and on the Protection of Civil Rights over untouchability.

Meanwhile, SC/ST Primary School Teachers Association president Chote Lal Gautam along with his supporters joined the Congress today.

UNI MB JAS KN KK RN1844