Gariaband. Despite receiving Rs 85.65 lakh from Samagra Shiksha for teaching self-defense skills to girls in 571 schools of the district, due to lack of coordination at the district level, the training is hanging in the balance at most places and is now on the verge of lapse.
In fact, under the overall education of the Central Government, in the month of October, 574 schools of the district had received Rs 85.65 lakh for teaching self-defense skills to girls. In the month of October, this money was given to all the schools marked with the value of Rs 15,000 per school from the state office, but no clear order was issued from the District Resource Coordinator as to how and from whom the self-defense funds were to be given. It was told that girls are to be given self-defense training for three months. The trainers are to be paid at the rate of Rs 5,000 per month from the respective schools, but due to lack of coordination, this training could not be completed even in 100 schools. Payment has also reduced by one third. Exams are to be held in March, hence studies to complete the course will gain momentum from the month of February. In such a situation, it is no longer possible to utilize the money received for this scheme.
District Resource Coordinator Khel Singh Nayak is claiming that training has been completed in 90 percent of the schools, but is also admitting that there has been delay in many places due to practical problems. Nayak said that the work of this scheme will be completed by March 31. If the expenditure is not made within this period then the amount will also be accepted as lapse.
Block officials do not have accurate information
Devbhog Sankul Coordinator BR Sori said that out of 72 schools, one month training has been done so far in only 24 schools, out of which only Rs 10 thousand has been paid to 2. Apart from Devbhog, other block officers do not have accurate information about training. Mainpur BRCC Shiv Kumar Nage and Gariaband BRCC Tejesh Sharma told that the training is going on, but information has been sought about how much it is going on and how much payment has been made. Officials say that the schools have to make the payment, hence they do not have detailed information about it. Half-incomplete training has been done in Chhura and Fingeshwar blocks. At some places this training seemed limited only to getting photographs clicked.
Schools are not informed about the work assigned to NGO
In the month of November, orders were issued to three NGOs named District Karate Association, Mature Tai Kondo and Self Defense Association registered with the state office to provide training. The number of trainers in these institutions was less in proportion to the number of schools. Most of the schools said that the trainers had definitely come but they did not have the written orders that they had been authorized. Even today, no clear order has been issued as to which institutions will provide training in which schools. Due to incomplete preparation, most of the trainers of the organization have also started leaving the job. Due to lack of coordination between schools, institutions and monitoring block district level departments, this important scheme is on the verge of lapse.