Government infrastructure projects at public schools in Ludhiana face uncertainty due to halted grant disbursements
Unused Development Grants Withdrawal Halts Government School Infrastructure Projects in Chandigarh
The ongoing construction projects in government schools across Chandigarh have been impacted due to the withdrawal of development grants by the education department. The grants, meant for supporting smart school initiatives and infrastructure development during the academic year 2024-25, were withdrawn at the end of the financial year, leaving construction sites deserted and vendors unwilling to resume work without payment clearance.
At Government Primary School, Giaspura, more than ₹15 lakh in grant money was withdrawn, causing the construction of new rooms and facilities to come to a standstill. Officiating head teacher Sukhdhir Singh Sekhon expressed concerns about the prolonged halt, stating that there has been no clarity about when the funds will be restored for over two months.
Several other schools with large-scale infrastructure plans have also been affected. An anonymous school principal mentioned the difficulty teachers face in managing payments and dealing with delays, as well as the financial and administrative strain caused by the fund withdrawal.
The sites allocated within school campuses for constructing classrooms, libraries, and smart facilities now stand idle due to the delays.
Anil Matharoo, the district coordinator of the Smart School project, has acknowledged the issue and stated that a proposal has been submitted to the central government to reissue the withdrawn grants. There is optimism that the funds will be released soon, but until then, infrastructure work remains stalled.
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The government's withdrawal of development grants has impacted smart school initiatives and infrastructure development plans, including construction of classrooms, libraries, and smart facilities, in multiple schools across Chandigarh. The delayed release of funds is causing financial strain and affecting the management of payments, as well as hampering self-development and educational opportunities. The central government is yet to reissue the withdrawn grants, resulting in a stall in infrastructure work. This standstill has also led to uncertainty and concerns in the general news and the political realm regarding the future of education infrastructure in Chandigarh.
