Officers directed to submitt report by April 30
Bathinda, March 30, 2017: (APS Brar) Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra today took stock of the Baisakhi mela being held at Talwandi Sabo on April 13. He directed the officers to ensure that they submit the report of respective arrangements by April 4 so that pilgrims can be provided best of the arrangements.
Addressing a meeting held at the District Administrative Complex , Lakra said that departments should send their reports of preparedness and arrangements to the office of ADC (G) Rahul Chaba by April 3. He directed the officials to ensure that pilgrims are given all facilities. He added that control room and help center will be set up at the mela site wherein the pilgrims can get requisite details and help. He added that the telephone number of control room too would be made public. He directed the police to ensure that a traffic plan was prepared so that pilgrims thronging mela do not face any kind of problem.
Lakra said that buses will be run from various places to the mela site to carry pilgrims. He directed the PRTC officials to ensure proper arrangements are made for the same. Also the health department was directed to ensure putting up first-aid and ambulance facility in place. he also directed that rescue centers be set up near the ponds where people take dip on the auspicious occasions
School fee issue, DC Diprava Lakra orders checking of schools
Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Diprava Lakra stated that acting on complaints received from parents about high increase in yearly fees of schools, the district administration conducted enquiry of various schools.
Lakra said that enquiry of Lord Rama School Bathinda, MSD Senior Secondary School Bathinda, Sri Guru Harkrishan School Bathinda, Guru Angad Dev World School Goniana Mandi, Bhai Jagta Ji Senior Secondary School Goniana Mandi, RBDAV School Bathinda and Guru Nanak Dev Public Senior Secondary School Kamla Nehru Colony Bathinda was conducted. He added that none of the schools have increased their fees structure beyond 7 percent, as prescribed in Right To Education (RTE) Act.
He added that also complaints were received against schools wherein people have alleged that schools were asking students to buy books other than of the NCERT. RB DAV School Bathinda, Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School Bathinda and Guru Angad Dev World School, Goniana Mandi have been asked to ascertain that NCERT books are taught in the schools.
Lakra said that no school can charge any capitation fees from the students. He said that the law is applicable on the schools affiliated to Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) as well as those affiliated to Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).
He said that abiding by the rules of Right To Education (RTE) Act the schools cannot force parents to buy books and stationery from any specific sellers. Parents are free to buy books and stationery from any shop they want to, he added.
He added that complaints were received about certain schools that had introduced books of private publishers and were overcharging students. Based on the complaints the District Education Officer (S) conducted thorough checking of the schools, but did not find any discrepancy.
ADC (G) Rahul Chaba, SDM Bathinda Sakshi Sawhney, SDM Talwandi Sabo Subhash Khatak, SDM Maur Latif ahmed, AC (G) Roop Singh and others were also present.