RTI reply reveals Delhi government spent Rs 8 lakh to advertise a student welfare scheme while only Rs 4 lakh was doled out in actual assistance
RTI reply reveals Delhi government spent Rs 8 lakh to advertise a student welfare scheme while only Rs 4 lakh was doled out in actual assistance
Last year the Delhi government gave away around Rs 4 lakh as scholarship to meritorious students in public schools from weaker sections of society. Seems like a move in the right direction towards making the capital literate. However, scrutiny reveals a different tale. According to a reply filed to a query under the Right to Information Act (RTI), the government spent around Rs 8 lakh on advertising the student welfare scheme.
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Where did the money go? The RTI reply says 644 school students received scholarships under the welfare scheme |
'Funds misused'
The reply to the query says the Delhi government's Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, which implements various schemes for the educational, social and economic development of youngsters from these communities, spend more on advertising many such similar programmes rather than on helping deserving students.
The query was filed by Harpal Singh Rana, who is associated with the NGO Delhi Vikas Samiti. "To help students studying in Classes VI to VIII from weaker sections who scored more than 60 per cent, the Delhi government had to dole out Rs 600 per student per year," said Rana.
Look who sells more, works less
"Those who scored between 50 and 60 per cent in the same classes were to receive scholarships worth Rs 550 per year. For students studying in Classes IX to XII who procured 50 to 60 per cent marks, the scholarship amount was Rs 1,350 per year; and for those who scored above 60 per cent, the amount was Rs 1,700 per year. The RTI reply says 644 school students received scholarships under the scheme. Which means, the government spend about Rs 3.86 lakh in scholarships. Whereas, it blew Rs 8.27 lakh to advertise the scheme," said Rana.
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Study aid: Delhi government paid the tuition fees for 618 students studying in public schools for the year 2008-09 |
Rana says he filed the RTI query on August 12 last year. "I received information that funds meant to help deserving students from weaker sections of society were being misused by government departments for self-promotional activities. In fact, the RTI reply didn't surprise me," said Rana, who received the reply to his query on October 5, undersigned by DK Rastogi, deputy director and public information officer with the Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities.
The Opposition agrees Interestingly, politicians in the Opposition camp agree with Rana. Commenting about the RTI reply, senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi said he was not surprised. "The Sheila Dikshit government is known for tom-tomming its schemes more than their implementation. Earlier, the government spent crores on advertising the benefits of the Employment Exchange whereas only a few people were befitted by it. The same is happening with the Commonwealth Games too. We see more advertisements than results on ground," said Mukhi.
Rs 450 to 750 Is the scholarship amount given by Delhi government for purchase of stationery per annum to students belonging to SC/ST/OBC and minority communities studying in Class VI to XII and having a family income of Rs 1 lakh per year.
| Welfare schemes for whom? |
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Tuition fees
Assistance: The Delhi government's Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities paid tuition fees for 618 students studying in public schools for the year 2008-09.
Ads: For advertisement of this scheme the government spent Rs 4,84,742.
Purchase of stationery
Assistance: 386 students benefited under this scheme.
Ads: The department spent Rs 10,05438 for advertisement
Help to meritorious students
Assistance: 644 school students and 2,197 college students received scholarship.
Ads: The department spent Rs 8,27,404 on informing school students about the scheme and Rs 4,58,140 for college students.
Help for students in post-matriculation
Assistance: 72 students benefited under this scheme
Ads: Department spent Rs 5,12,000 for its advertisementu00a0
(Data is for 2008-09) |
