Govt promises air travel to curb dropout in J'khand

Ranchi, Oct 30 (UNI) Taking serious note of unabated dropouts despite various measures, the Jharkhand government today promised an exciting air travel for primary school children who scored more than 70 per cent in exam.

HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey said the students between class three and five in government schools, who would bag 70 per cent and above or the top ten pupils in final exams, would be sponsored a trip from Dumka to state capital by gliders.

Besides, Chief Minister Shibu Soren would formally announce appointment of 18,000 primary school teachers on state foundation day schedued for November 15 and the state public service commission would start processing its implementation, Mr Tirkey told a press conference here.

He said for the air travel scheme, 200 children would be selected from each district adding the number might vary according to the number of qualified children.

Earlier, the government announced mid-day meal scheme followed by hair cutting programme to lure more and more students to schools which were yet to yield satisfactory results.

As per hair cutting sceme, the government had announced to appoint 3,000 barbers on ad hoc basis to give hair cutting to chidren who could not afford it.

Each barber was supposed to look after five schools, according to that scheme.

Today, the minister said the government was planning to introduce vocational training, specially for girls--500 muslims, 500 adivasis, 300 harijans and 200 for general community.

Mr Tirkey said for this Rs 5.5 crore has been earmarked.

Besides, the government was processing to obtain establishment of an IIM at Pundag and a NIIT, both in the capital, he said.

UNI PRS KK KLC1818