Bengaluru: Ruckus over text books delay

Bengaluru: How can students from BBMP schools excel academically when study materials like text books don’t reach them in time, questioned former mayor N. Shantakumari.

Speaking in the BBMP council on Thursday she questioned the inordinate delay in distributing study materials and uniforms to the students. Even as the academic year is coming to an end, the students are yet to get textbooks.

Corporators, cutting across party lines attacked officials for their laxity in ensuring books, sweaters uniforms and shoes to students studying in BBMP schools.
Mostly, the students who enroll with the BBMP schools hail from economically weaker sections. What is the motivation for students if books and shoes are not provided on time, she questioned.

Replying to the query, BBMP special commissioner Ravindran defended that they had called for tender to supply books to BBMP school students.

Unfortunately, there were no takers. Upon checking the reason, it was found that payment for bidders, who supplied books last year, was yet to be done and the file is before Accounts department. This could be one of the reasons for poor response, he said.

Unhappy over his reply, corporators created ruckus at meeting demanding that the official concerned be punished.