Budget 2015: Uttarakhand government seeks additional budgetary allocations for repair of school buildings

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand government has asked the Centre to make additional budgetary allocations to the state for the repair and reconstruction of school buildings damaged in 2013 disaster.

Raising the issue at the 59th NCERT meeting in New Delhi yesterday chaired by Union Minister for Human Resource Smriti Irani, state Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani said a large number of school buildings were damaged in the disaster and are badly in a need of repairs.

Seeking additional budgetary allocations from the Centre for the purpose, he said schemes and budgets being allocated to Uttarakhand in the education sector should be in the ratio of 90:10 as in the case of northeastern states, an official release here said.

Speaking on the policy of not failing students up to class eight, Naithani suggested board examinations should be held in class V and VIII, saying this will immensely benefit students and teachers.

He also gave suggestions not to involve teachers in the work of measuring ration in the Mid Day Meal scheme as it will divert their attention from their main task of educating children.

Naithani also sought separate arrangements for ration collection and preparation of food, the release said.