Pune: School administrators across Maharashtra have voiced strong opposition to the government's decision to divert educational funds to the "Ladki Bahin Scheme," claiming that this move is financially crippling schools and damaging the state's already fragile education system.

During a press conference, leaders of the State Educational Institutions Corporation alleged that funds meant for various critical sectors, including education, have been reallocated to support the government’s "Ladki Bahin Scheme," a welfare initiative.

The administrators argued that this fund diversion has left schools struggling to meet essential needs and has delayed critical payments, including overdue reimbursements and grants for underprivileged students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Adv. Vijay Gawhane, Secretary of the State Educational Institutions Corporation, criticized the government's decision, stating, “The current administration is diverting vital funds from the education sector to finance their welfare schemes.

This is putting immense pressure on schools, leaving teachers, administrators, and students in dire financial conditions.” He emphasized that the lack of financial resources is causing vacancies in both teaching and non-teaching positions to remain unfilled, and is contributing to a larger crisis in the education system.

The RTE reimbursement issue, where Rs 2,000 crore has been pending since 2017, was also highlighted as a direct consequence of the fund reallocation.

Schools have not received necessary non-salary grants, and financial strain is mounting across the state’s education infrastructure. Gawhane added, “Instead of addressing these gaps, the government is prioritizing schemes like 'Ladki Bahin,' while basic education needs are being ignored."

The press conference also revealed that corruption allegations have emerged in the disbursement of RTE funds, with local education officers allegedly demanding a 2% to 5% commission to release reimbursement funds to schools.

These practices, compounded by the lack of government support, have created a challenging environment for educators trying to manage their schools efficiently.

In response to these grievances, a teachers' convention has been organized on September 21 at Azam Campus in Pune, where prominent political leaders, including MP Supriya Sule and MLA Satyajit Tambe, are expected to attend.