GUWAHATI SSA - SSA bid to speed up free book distribution in govt schools

TOI NEWS- 

GUWAHATI: The state chapter of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) had recently organized an orientation programme for circle officers and block-level officers for free distribution of textbooks for various government schools in Assam.

Last year, students had complained that the textbooks hadn't reached the schools on time and so this time the books are being distributed earlier to ensure that students do not face any problem.

This year, a total of 3 crores 5 lakhs books would be distributed in 10 mediums in all the 146 educational blocks of SSA.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Right to education now falls under fundamental rights and so any violation of it would not be excused. Right to free textbook too is one of the fundamental rights taken up by the state government in last July."

He added that there were about 55 lakh students studying in government schools across the state where 267 varieties of text books would be distributed in 50 thousand schools.

The education minister also said, "The process of book distribution would start from November 17 onwards, when the books would be first sent to the postal department from where it would be sent to various blocks."

"The distribution will be completed by January 2 and if it gets delayed, by January 7 all textbooks will reach every schools," he added.

"All together we have 45 days in hand for distribution and the entire process has to be completed by this time."

L S Changsen director SSA said, "The distribution of textbooks has been going on since 2002-03 and SCERT is the authority for the printing and distribution of textbooks."

It was also said that a committee would be formed for block-level supervision and monitoring. The main function of this committee would be smooth distribution of books by December itself.

Advance planning has to be done by the circle officers and at the block-level, the headmasters of various schools would come and collect the books.

The district-level committee would check the maintenance of the records and from December 1, the distribution would start.

The district-level committee has also been asked to provide a certificate after all the books are distributed.

"A toll free number would also be provided for assistance to those with doubts regarding the system of book distribution or who didn't receive books on time," said Changsen.