Mumbai: The Maharshtra government has decided to provide free textbooks to students from Class I to Class VIII in government and private aided schools, instead of transferring the sum to in their bank accounts.
The students would get the textbooks on the first day of school in June and the day would have to be observed as ‘Book Day’.
The State has been providing textbooks to students to ensure better attendance. It also aims to ensure that no student is kept away from education due to lack of books.
However, in December 2016, the planning department decided to include textbooks as part of the direct benefit transfer scheme. This meant that economically weak students had to open a bank account to receive money for the books, rather than getting them directly from the school. But, following complaints from schools, the government chose to exclude the scheme from the DBT for the 2017-18 academic term.
Prakash Rediz, secretary of the Mumbai Principals Association, said, “The onus was put on school principals to ensure that all students had bank accounts. This was highly impractical and hence we protested.”
Suresh Nair, Principal, Vivek Vidyalaya and Junior College, said, “The scheme was impractical. Even if the students do receive the money in their accounts, what is the guarantee that they would spend it on textbooks?”
He added, “In the initial years, the textbooks would reach late, around July, leading to problems. But, since the last couple of years, they reach by end of May and we are able to disburse them on the first day of school.”
Over 1,17,02,764 students are eligible to receive free textbooks in the State. As per the government figures, students between Class I and Class V need ₹150 for the books, whereas students from Class VI to VIII need ₹250. The government has earmarked ₹2,22,281.75 for providing the textbooks, including those in Braille and large print.
