SED’s convergence mode with other departments to boost infrastructure, fast-track projects

Srinagar, Jan 5: In a significant development, the J&K School Education Department (SED) is all set to go in a convergence mode with different government departments to augment infrastructure besides expediting execution and ensure timely completion of the projects under different Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

An official said the new decision will be effective from the upcoming financial year wherein the department will converge and collaborate with other government departments for augmentation of the infrastructure and utilisation of funds available under different CSS.

"A team of officials from the Department recently visited New Delhi to have a meeting in this regard with the Ministry of Education and deliberate on the implementation of the idea," the official said.

He said the department will converge with Tribal Department, Jal Shakti Department, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department besides other departments as well."From the new financial year, FCI will directly get Rs 500 crore from the Ministry of Education so that schools will get food grains on subsidised rates while the health department will take care of school report cards besides health and hygiene of school kids," the official told Greater Kashmir. The decision has been taken considering the non availability of the huge funding with the SED.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Director School Education Kashmir G N Itoo said the move will benefit the School Education Department (SED) to augment the infrastructure in schools besides execution of other schemes as well.

Citing examples, the DSEK said they will go in convergence mode with the Tribal Affairs Department which has a huge funding available for constructing hostels for students.

"In convergence mode, the Tribal Affairs department will provide the infrastructure (hostels) and the buildings will be utilised by the students and staff of SED," G N Itoo told Greater Kashmir.

He said the MDM was earlier implemented through Samagra Shiksha Directorate but in convergence mode, the FCI will directly get funding so that they will count the schools as part of the population.

"Once the FCI will directly get the funding for MDM, it will help the School Education Department to get a timely supply of food grains for the students. There are funds available for these things under different centrally sponsored schemes," G N Itoo said.

Under the new initiative, the Jal Shakti Department will ensure that proper tap water connections are set up inside the school premises wherever needed.

"As per routine process, the Jal Shakti department will water pipes up to the boundary wall. But in convergence mode, they will set up the tap water connection inside the premises of the school. It will ease the burden on schools," he said.

He said the decision to go for convergence mode will help in timely execution and completion of projects and will also be followed by a proper timeline. Besides, there will be local level monitoring in the centrally sponsored schemes. Under the convergence mode, infrastructure will be created through different centrally sponsored schemes and there will be no burden on the UT budget," GN Itoo told Greater Kashmir.