Mumbai: Grant for private-aided schools sought

Mumbai: Grant for private-aided schools sought

Staff ReporterUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 02:27 AM IST
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Mumbai: At the BMC standing committee meeting on Wednesday, the corporators raised the issue of lack of subsidies to private-aided schools. Over 100 teach­ers from private-aided schools have been protesting at Azad Maidan for the past three days.

Despite a budget of over `30,000 crore, why has the BMC not subsidised private-aided schools, the corporators demand­ed and proceeded to question the intent of the civic chief, Ajoy Mehta. They threat­en­ed to stage a strike outside his office, if the demands of the striking teachers are not met in two days.

The Shiv Sena corporator and the chairman of the education committee, Mangesh Satamkar, in his point of order, said, “Despite the unanimous decision by all-party leaders, why has the municipal commissioner not allotted subsidies to the private-aided schools yet? The BMC can spend money on fancy projects like cycle tracks, but cannot use a chunk of the budget towards the subsidies of school teachers.”

The corporators will protest outside the commissioner’s office, if demands of striking teachers are not met in two days,” he warned. The FPJ spoke to a striking teacher at Azad Maidan. “We have not been paid our last two-months’ pay. We earn `2,-3,000 a month. Schools are not in good shape.

Students are not getting good facilities. If the BMC sanc­tions the subsidies, all the issues will be resolved,” he said. The Sena corporator and the leader of the house, Vishakha Raut said, “Teachers are not demanding grants with retrospective effect. Why can’t the corporation agree to this modest demand of teachers?”

Had the BMC decided to allot the subsidies retrospectively, the amount would have exceeded `250 crore. But as the matters stand, it will only cost the corporation `55 crore. However a civic official said, “The revenue account is under strain this year due to the seventh pay commission. If the demand is met, many other demands will crop up.”

Last year, the state government had decided against giving a subsidy to 71 private-aided schools. However, the BMC had assured the schools built before 2013 would continue to get aid. Despite the assurance, none of the schools have got any assistance.

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