Create an ease of joining environment for admission into schools : T M Vijay Bhaskar
Bengaluru: The Chief Secretary to the State Government T M Vijay Bhaskar asked Officers to create an environment for ease of joining schools, on the lines of ease of doing business, for admission of children into schools.
Addressing the State-level Inter-Departmental High Power Committee on bringing drop-outs back to school here on Wednesday, the schools should not demand Aadhar Cards, Ration Cards, Birth Certificates, Caste Certificates and Transfer Certificates and terrorize the parents, unnecessarily, but admit the children first, give adequate time to get the testimonials and complete the formalities in due course. This will improve and increase the school admissions of children belonging to the down trodden, underprivileged and weaker sections of society.
The Chief Secretary strictly instructed officers to take necessary action to provide admission to children for the children, belonging to the migratory labour, all through the academic year. He said, Government schools cannot deny admission to any child, any time in the academic year in the interest of the future of such children. Vijay Bhaskar asked the labour department to get free passes in public transport to the children of the migratory labour to go to the schools. Also, it is the duty of the contractors, to ferry the children of their labour force to the nearest schools, he said.
Bhaskar asked the Department of Women and Child Development to conduct a survey at night, on the lines of census, especially in Bengaluru to assess the actual number of children, who are school drop outs and who take shelter at bus stations, below the flyovers or on the benches of parks, in the month of August.
The Department of Education has identified 70,000 children between the age group of six years to 18 years, as school drop outs according to its Students Achievement Tracking System. The only drawback in this system is a student, who has never enrolled cannot be tracked. Presently, the criteria for drop out is considered, when the student absents himself or herself from school for more than 60 days. The trustee of CIVIC, a Non-Governmental Organisation working for the welfare of children for better life, Kathyayini Chamaraj, suggested that the terminology for drop-out should be changed into successive absence for seven days instead of the present 60 days from school. This will prevent the drop-out rate, significantly. Also, children who are irregular to school should be monitored and the authorities should take steps to ensure their presence at the school, she opined.
The Additional Chief Secretary to Government and Development Commissioner Vandita Sharma, the Principal Secretary to Government in the Department of Primary and Secondary Education S R Uma Shankar, the Principal in the Department of Planning Dr Shalini Rajneesh, the Secretary to Government in the Department of Backward Classes Mr Mohammed Mohsin, the Commissioner of Public Instruction Dr P C Jaffer were part of the meeting.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
