Punjab govt to release grant to aided schools

Chandigarh, Oct 27 (UNI) Giving a major relief to the government aided school staff, the Punjab Education Department has decided to release 95 per cent grant-in-aid to these institutions without any pre audit for the first three quarters to avoid delay in disbursing the monthly salaries of the staff.

The grant-in-aid release would now be regulated at the level of Circle Education Officers instead of by the Directorate.

This was announced by Eucation Minister Upinderjit Kaur in a meeting with delegations of Aided Schools Staff Associations here today.

The Minister announced that the grant for the first three quarters would now be released without any pre audit and the fourth quarter grant during the financial year would only be released after auditing the grants of first three quarters.

To regulate the grant-in-aid schemes efficiently and to avoid unnecessary delays in the release of grants, the Minister ordered for decentralising the work at the level of Circle Education Officers instead of at the Directorate level.

Dr Upinderjit Kaur directed the District and Block Education Officers (DEOs and BEOs) to inspect the government aided schools periodically and submit the report to the government so that functioning of these privately managed schools could be streamlined.

The Minister assured the delegation that the matter regarding withdrawal of cases registered by the Chandigarh Police on the aided school teachers during their agitation, would be discussed with the UT Administration and Police. She told the delegation that their demands regarding pensions and other allowances including interim relief would be considered sympathetically in a meeting with the Finance Minister at the earliest.

The Education Minister assured the association that the ban on the recruitment in aided schools including conversion of posts would also be considered by the education department. The decision regarding step up promotional scales would also be taken up after careful consultation on the award of the High Court, she added.

In this meeting among others Mr K B S Sidhu, Principal Secretary, Education, Mr Ashok Gupta, Secretary Education, Mrs H K Brar DPI (S) and leaders of Punjab State Aided Schools and other Employees Unions and Aided Schools Progressive Front were also present.

UNI HS MMS1852