Balala Hakkula Sangham deplored the government’s attempt to cut Rs 10 from the cosmetics allowance being given to the students of Andhra Pradesh in the name of contribution to the construction of world-class capital Amaravati.
The Sangham, which has been fighting for children’s rights in Andhra Pradesh since 1985, urged the state government to revoke the circular given to the district education officers to deduct the Rs 10 from each students’ pocket money the government releases every month. ” It is against the spirit of the Right to Education Act,” the NGO said. It said the circular violates the basic rights of the students.
Comparing the compulsory donation from poor students to the poll-tax imposed by Aurangzeb, Anuradha Rao, president, Balala Hakkula Sangham, said the government should not resort anti-children policy to mobilize funds for the construction of the capital.
However, human resources minister of state Ganta Srinivasa Rao told media that the donation was voluntary. ” The move is aimed at creating a sense of participation and belonging for Amaravati among the students and teachers of the state. It’s a small amount and we have clearly instructed officials not to collect the donation against their will,” he said. There are about 70 lakh students and 3 lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh. If the government deducts from salaries of teachers and allowances of students, it could mobilize about Rs 71 crore.
According to sources, the ideas was mooted by none other than Ganta himself. And the opposition party succeeded in giving political color. It’s not new to collect some minor contribution from the students for flag festival. Ganta thought the construction of capital city was a noble cause and the idea of Amaravti would become dearer to them if they contributed Rs 10 consciously to the construction of capital city. So, he prompted the officials to plunge into action. Through this novel idea, though it fetches a small amount, he is certain gain some brownie points from the CM.
He instructed officials collect Rs 10 from each students from about 64,000 educational institution functioning in the state. The Money would go to chief minister’s My capital My Amaravati program. On the instructions of minister Ganta, the commissioner, school education on Monday issued a circular(RC A&I 2016) to regional joint directors and DEOs to collect donations.
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