The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has released the pending funds for the purchase of school uniforms, stationery and bags for students after an audit report highlighted its failure to disburse the amount since 2016–17, documents reveal.
However, the MCD schools have received less funds for nearly 2,73,122 of the total 7.88 lakh students enrolled in the civic body schools, as the documents showed without highlighting any reason for the lower disbursement.
There was no immediate response from the mayor’s office, commissioner, MCD, or director of the education department.
“The corporation has approved the proposal vide 28/12/23, 31/10/23, and 28/12/23 for the allocation of cash subsidies of Rs 300, Rs 1,100, and Rs 120, respectively, per child enrolled in pre-primary to fifth classes in MCD schools for the purchase of stationery, uniform, and school bags for the current year 2023-24,” the documents, which show the amount has been released for just 5,14,878 students, read. Reacting to the development, the Delhi Bhartiya Janta Party United criticised the AAP-led MCD government for releasing the funds for the academic year 2023–24 after the session had ended.
“Out of the total number of students studying in municipal schools, only 5,14,878 students were given funds for school uniforms for the academic year 2023-24 that too in January 2024,” the party said in a statement. As per the documents, MCD released the pending funds of Rs 56,63,65,800 for uniform, Rs 15,44,63,400 for notebooks and stationary, and Rs 6,17,85,360 for purchasing school bags for these students across its 12 zones.
The civic body has a total of 7.88 lakh students enrolled in its schools. The funds were released for the academic session 2023-24 between December last year and January, 2024.
