Municipal school students will have to wait longer for their direct cash transfer this year. The proposal for it could not be passed in Monday’s education committee meeting, as the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force on Sunday.
The proposal to distribute educational items to students, which was going to be placed before the standing committee, is also in limbo now.
Around three lakh children study at schools run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). For around a decade, the BMC has been providing them about 87 educational items, including uniforms, school bags, shoes and stationery, for free.
Corporators unsure
This year, however, the civic administration was keen on giving the students money through direct benefit transfer as per State government norms. As the proposal met with resistance from corporators, it was decided that the BMC would give money in place of about 10% of the school items on a trial basis.
Due to this back and forth, the proposal could only be tabled before the education committee on Monday. But since the model code of conduct came in force on Sunday, it could not be passed.
“We tried our best to bring the proposal before the committee before the code of conduct became applicable, but we ran out of time. It took very long for corporators to agree to the cash transfer, and then there was a budget discussion. Cash transfer was being introduced for the first time this year and since new announcements are not allowed, there is no way the Election Commission will allow it. We will have to wait till after voting is over now,” said an education department officer.
The proposal was worth ₹37 crore, to provide ₹400 to ₹600 to all students.
Second proposal
Meanwhile, the administration is scheduled to present the proposal to distribute other educational items before the standing committee later this month. There is ambiguity over whether that proposal can be passed. “Since we have been giving these items for years now, I don’t think there will be a problem. If required, we will write to the Election Commission so that we can give the items on time,” Mangesh Satamkar, education committee chairman, said.
The new academic year starts on June 16.
