By Tameemuddin Humble, TwoCircles.net,
Gaya: “Students’ money, allotted by the Government under Mukhyamantri Balika Poshak Yojana, Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana and Mukhyamantri scholarship program to the students of 9th & 10th class, are much awaited by the parents than the students her-selves”, said the Headmistress of Urdu Girls High School, Mujahida Haq.
She receives dozens of calls, as to when it was to be disbursed. Even the nominal amount of few hundred rupees annually, charged by the school in the name of development and miscellaneous expenses, is being paid by some of the students after receiving this few thousand rupees in a year by the state government. The Chief Minister’s Scholarship Program is meant to promote girls’ education, but sometimes poverty stricken families are forced to use it for other purpose.
Dr Prem Kumar, Former Minister, Govternment of Bihar and BJP MLA, Gaya Assembly constituency, distributed Rs. 5,31,000/- to the 124 students of class IX @Rs.2500/- for cycle and to the 97 students of class X @Rs.1000/- for Poshak (dress) of the financial year 2014-15.
Dr Kumar allotted a deep well hand pump to the school from his development fund and promised to look into the possibilities to establish a library in the school. In the past, he has also given the fund to develop the infrastructure of the school.
The school is the only Government minority girls’ high school in Magadh Division of Bihar which celebrated its Golden Jubilee last year in March, taking vow of development by the new management committee. Since then the school has taken a new shape and created almost a thousand square foot space for the students. It is running in a rented house though Jeetan Ram Manjhi, Ex Chief Minister of Bihar, promised to arrange a land, while addressing the Golden Jubilee program. As of now, not only the school is devoid of the basic infrastructure but needed even the basic amenities such as the separate toilets for the male and female staffs.
The government usually takes interest in the popular schemes to the extent of policy announcement only and more so keeping it be compensated politically but it is the action research by the civil society that could make a difference. The main objective of this financial aid by the government is that students particularly girls should continue their education and must not drop out due to financial problems. But to the social segments it is meant for is struggling for the basic livelihood. We need the holistic approach towards the welfare schemes.
The secretary Dr M H Khan welcomed the Chief Guest, Dr Prem Kumar, and apprised the audience of what was done in the last one year, regarding infrastructure and other works. Izhar proposed the vote of thanks. Several other members of the managing committee were also present at the function.