Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Directorate of Samagra Shiksha here today under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode made first ever transfer of Reader and Escort allowances to the accounts of beneficiaries.
A handout stated that under this system, funds are transferred by banks directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries.
The initiative was taken by the State Project Director, Dr. Arun Manhas who while interacting with media told that this pioneer step is envisaged to directly benefit the Children With Special Needs (CWSN) in a more transparent way.
Through DBT, all kinds of approved allowances and stipends shall now be directly transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries after a proper verification and authentication method.
Dr. Arun revealed that this DBT was a pilot exercise under which a total amount of Rs. 5,54,500 was credited to the beneficiary accounts. Rs. 2,22,500 and Rs. 1,70,000 was directly transferred under ‘Escort Allowance’ to 89 beneficiaries of Srinagar and 68 beneficiaries of Jammu district. Besides, Rs. 162000 was also transferred to all the 81 beneficiaries of State under ‘Reader Allowance’.
He further added that Ministry of Human Resource Development, GoI have approved Reader Allowance for blind students at Rs. 2000 per child, Escort allowance for neurologically effected children at Rs. 2500 per child and stipend for all girls CWSN at Rs 1200 per child during 2018-19.
All these specially-abled children are enrolled in Government schools of our state and/or receiving various therapeutic as well as educational support services though Special Education Teachers/Resource Persons.
State Nodal Officer for DBT, Samagra Shiksha, Dr. Ravinder Jangral told that the directorate is planning to widen the prospects of such kind of funds disbursals in a more simplified and accountable mode.
Secretary School Education, Ajeet Sahu lauded the efforts made by Directorate of Samagra Shiksha and reiterated that DBT to beneficiaries must be extended to rest of the districts of state as well.
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