Apathy of the part of the Basic Education Department but students bearing the consequences

Lucknow— The Uttar Pradesh government has been encouraging children to study through its slogan "Khoob Padho­- Khoob Badho" [study well, do well]. But nearly five months into the academic session, five crore children have not yet been given the required books. Due to the lack of books, the children are facing problems in their studies. About 11 crore books are needed for the students under the Basic Education Department in the state, but so far only six crore books have reached the schools. As regards English and Urdu medium books, not even one has been given out to the students.

As a matter of fact, just before the start of the academic session, the Basic Education Secretary had issued an order stating that all the children moving up to the next class should deposit the books from the last year. These old books would be distributed to the children admitted to that same class in this academic year. The order was not fully implemented, due to which most of the children did not receive the old books. In schools across the state, for almost five months now, the children have also been waiting for new books to arrive instead. Although books have started to arrive, these are very few in number. In Bareilly district, there are 4.34 lakh registered students. About 24 lakh books were ordered for them, but only eight lakhs have been received. All these eight lakh books are only for Hindi-medium children. Not a single book has arrived for the English- and Urdu-medium students. Officials have said that the responsibility for distributing the books has been given to 13 publishing houses across the state. Of these, only two have fulfilled their supply in Bareilly.

Purchase orders for books issued belatedly

Although the new school session starts in April, the order to purchase the books was released in June this time. As per rules, textbooks should be delivered within 90 days and workbooks within 120 days of the purchase order. The deadline for delivery of books is September 7. Looking at the situation in this way, the publishers have been supplying the books in the stipulated time. But, from the point of view of the academic year, the children have been without the needed books for five months into the session. The children are having to bear the consequences of the government's ineptitude.

Supplies will be fulfilled on time

Shyam Kishore Tiwari, the state textbook officer, has said 6 crores of the 11 crore books that were ordered have been supplied. The remaining books are also being supplied soon. There was some delay in issuing the purchase order as per guidelines. Despite that, the supply will be completed in time.

यहाँ हिन्दी में भी पढ़ें– पांच करोड़ किताबें अब तक नहीं पहुंच सकीं, कैसे पढ़ेगा, आगे बढ़ेगा यूपी!

[Story Translated By Lotika Singha]