PMC passes education budget

PUNE, Dec 30: Pune Municipal Corporation’s education board budget for financial year of 1999-2000 education board was unanimously passed today after it came under severe criticism by corporators belonging to all parties.

Cutting across party lines, members expressed dissatisfaction over the education board’s performance. They strongly criticised the board for its failure to provide uniform to students while the academic year is nearly over.

Almost all corporators including Vijay Kale, Usman Hiroli, Shantilal Suratwala, Jyosna Sardeshpande and Rajlaxmi Bhosale criticised that the education board is more interested in floating tenders rather than improving education standards.

The budget was passed after several corporators made supplementary suggestions. An amount of Rs nine crore was allotted towards salaries of teachers and other staff in 38 villages which had merged with the city. The meet proposed to start a Kridaniketan, for which an amount of Rs 10 lakh has been provided.