With the aim of providing better amenities to the students of the government schools, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to transfer an amount of Rs 600 per student to all the boys and girls from classes 1–8 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for providing them free school uniforms.
According to the state government, funds will be transferred directly in the name of the student or that of their mother. The move will benefit about 5.25 lakh students. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government has taken this decision to minimize the extra financial burden on the parents, adding that transferring the amount directly to the beneficiary will also ensure transparency.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government has made several decisions to benefit students. Previously, students had to wait for the uniform due to the lengthy distribution process, but now they can get it right away. “The state government is committed to improving educational infrastructure for children and is working in this direction,” Sukhu said.
Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding schools will be opened in a phased manner in all the assembly constituencies. Apart from providing quality education, these modern schools will also provide a suitable study environment to the students and ample space for other curricular facilities as well, stated the Chief Minister.
The opposition BJP, however, accused the Congress government of reducing the number of beneficiaries under the scheme. Also, the Rs 600 to be transferred to the accounts of the students is the share of the center, and the state’s contribution is nil, the party alleged.
