TP recommends to reopen closed school at Bennekudru

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 30 September 2011: There is a island in Bennekudru river near Barkur in Udupi Taluk, which had a government aided school. As per the files of the officers the school has been closed a year back. But in reality the school is still running even today! This wonder became public on Thursday in the Taluk Panchayath meeting.
 
The school has been closed and all the grants allotted to it has been stopped by the officers for the reason that it does not have the minimum required 30 students, as fixed to this school by the government. So naturally the mid-day meal provided to all schools under the Akshara Dasoha yojane has been stopped to this school. Also the uniforms, books and other facilities were not provided by the government. But the school is still running.

 

 
Taluk Panchayath President Devadas Hebbar placed the petition of the residents of the island before the Taluk Panchayath meeting, that the government aids and facilities should be provided to the school. A long discussion on this matter took place. The speciality is that earlier the same Taluk Panchayath in its meeting had decided to close this school for shortage of students!
 
Now with the intention that the children of the residents of the island should not be deprived by the education, the same Taluk Panchayath decided to withdraw the earlier decision. Taluk Panchayath opposition members Umesh Nayak, Veronika Carnelio, Dr. Sunita Shetty and others urged to provide the aids and other fecilities to the school.
 
But the education officer spoke about the rule of the minimum number of students and said that if the number of students are increased then the school can be reopened, so on this Taluk Panchayath has to decide, he said. The Administrative officer of Taluk Panchayath who was the former education officer said that, these decisions has to be taken by the education officer himself and not Taluk Panchayath.
 
Finally Taluk Panchayath President gave his decision that, there is no objection from the Taluk Panchayath to restart this school and asked the officers to visit the school, inspect the number of students and proceed accordingly.
 
In the discussion on other issues in the meeting, Taluk Panchayath Sthayee Samiti member Bharath Kumar said that, in Kota in about 100 acre agriculture land attempts are being made by privates parties to use the land for purposes other than agriculture and levelling of the land is taking place. He appealed for necessary action on this. President Hebbar said that if the complaint comes from the Grama Panchayath on this then it will be reviewed.
 
In the meeting Janardana Rao a staff who is retiring from his services and Accountant Annappa who is transferred with promotion were bid farewell by President, members and officers of Taluk Panchayath.