By TCN Special Correspondent,
Guwahati: “Education is the catalyst for development and without which no State or society can move ahead,” said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the ceremonial distribution of computers to students’ unions of colleges, free uniforms to school children, financial assistance to the Sanskrit Tols and Khariji Madrassa under Chief Minister’s Special Scheme and RTE, SSA at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakhshetra in the city on 21st Feb.
With Assembly elections round the corner, the Congress Chief Minister gave away the first installment of the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to Sanskrit Tols and Khariji Madrassas and Rs 7 lakh as first installment to provincialised madrassas. Altogether 700 Khariji and provincialised Madrassas and 100 Sanskrit Tols have been selected.
Gogoi also gave away two sets of uniforms to school children from Classes I to VII. Altogether 49,66,143 school children have been selected at a cost of Rs 198.645 crore. The Chief Minister gave away computer sets to five students’ unions of colleges. Altogether 196 students’ unions have been selected.
This is the first time Khariji madrassas have been given financial assistance. “We want the Khariji madrassas to flourish for which our Government has extended assistance without anyone asking for it,” he said. Gogoi suggested that the madrassas should introduce new courses that would help them to attract more students’.
Gogoi said that the Government has been making all out efforts to increase girls’ enrolment by introducing midday meal, providing bicycles and textbooks to them and now school uniforms.
Education Minister, Gautam Bora spoke on the occasion. The distribution function was attended, among others, by Minister for Irrigation, Nurjamal Sarkar, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Dr. Nazrul Islam, Additional CS, Education, HM Caire, Commissioner & Secretary, Education, LS Changson and Secretary, Education, Sohrab Ali.