IMPHAL, July 20: The School Management and Development Committee Association, Chandel today came up with a strong objection regarding the government plan to give construction works to contractors in upgrading schools under SSA.
Speaking to media persons at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, president of the association Trimson Saka announced an intense form of agitation if the government did not heed to the demands by July 25.
Warning the concerned authority to clarify the matter, he said the work has to be handed over to the concerned SMDCs. If the government doesn’t comply with the demand all construction-related works will be halted, he added.
As per the guideline of RTE 2010, the school management committee is held responsible for infrastructure development. Contractors, however, may be allotted the work only if it is a multi-storied building.
Lamenting how they were cheated, the president said that the plan is against the deed signed while donating lands for school. If the government acts against the deed, we have different ways to respond, he warned.
Framing contractors as only after profits, he said, there is no guarantee that quality will be ensured. There are some schools constructed by contractors which lack quality and are far from completion, he added.
The president however maintained that the agitation would not give hardships to the common man.
The main target would be the concerned authority, officials and department associated with the issue, he added.
On being asked whether the concerned authority have been approach on the matter, General secretary of the association John Thangjalen told IFP that a memorandum had been submitted to the education minister and the principal secretary.
He also said that they had also faxed the HRD Ministry to address the problem. While the state authority is yet to respond to the demand, the state government is concealing the reply of the HRD Ministry, he added.