Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu clarifies his letter to MLAs

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• Aug 21, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The "Vidyanjali 2.0" programme of the Center for Special Education allows any donor to voluntarily fund a school.

Digital Desk: Ranoj Pegu, the education minister for Assam, sought to clarify the letter's contents with the state's MLAs on Friday.

In the letter, a plea was made to encourage supporters and contributors in each MLA's district to provide free assistance to "certain schools needing basic facilities."

The letter was written against the backdrop of the Center's special education programme, "Vidyanjali 2.0," which allows any donor—retired government employees, businesspeople, young people, social organisations, and the private sector—to voluntarily support a school to improve basic infrastructure.

Speaking to the media, amid opposition parties and unions questioning the education department's financial capacity to upgrade school infrastructure, Pegu said that under the programme for school infrastructure maintenance and repair, schools receive a composite grant (the amount depending on the number of students in a particular school).

"As it is, the government gives the school management committees this composite grant. However, the main point of the request presented to the MLAs is to encourage community and civil society participation in order to support schools with enough infrastructure in addition to government assistance, Pegu said.

The minister had stated in a letter to the MLAs dated August 11, 2022, "The contributions to the schools can be provided by the individuals and donor organizations through registration on the http://vidyanjali.education.gov.in/en site."

It should be mentioned that the central government recently launched the Vidyanjali 2.0 portal, through which schools are to be enhanced with the aid of engagement from the community and service sector.

As you may be aware, several schools in your district lack necessary amenities like drinking water filters, electric fans, chairs, and tables. These amenities are crucial for schools to deliver quality education.

There is currently a lack of funding to address these needs, despite the government's efforts to make arrangements for these facilities. The minister's letter stated that it will take time to address these shortcomings.

The minister reportedly stated that the letter's contents had been misinterpreted in response to criticism from parties and unions like AASU, all the while pleading with the MLAs to delay the appeal and wait for an "updated letter."