Civic school toppers yet to receive cash prizes

Mumbai: Every June, after the Class 10 examination’s results are out, the Brihanm-umbai Municipal Corpor-ation’s (BMC) education department hands out cash prizes worth more than Rs 15,000 to merit-rankers among civic school students. This year, however, four months after the Class 10 exam results were declared, 23 merit-rankers are yet to receive their cash awards, thanks to an alleged delay on the part of the civic finance department. The mayor usually gives a cheque to the students in a prize distribution event.

“This money helps students gain admission at better colleges as most of our students are from underprivileged families that cannot afford a bigger budget. The money has been kept on hold since the past four months and there seems no ray of hope for the students to get that money looking at the scenario at the department,” said a source. Apart from this, the source said that scholarship money that is given by the BMC every year for Classes 5 and 8 is pending as well. “Prize money, scholarships, teachers’ awards and many other things to be passed by the secondary section are pending,” the source said.

Bharat Pandey, BMC’s deputy education officer (secondary section) said, “Students who score more than 90 per cent are selected for this award and are given the cash prize. However, the tender works of this is remaining, as there are too many things to manage right now.” When asked about when these students would get the money, he said, “I cannot give a date but it will soon be done, that is for sure!”

Sainath Durge, the education committee member and Yuva Sena core committee member, who last month took this matter at the committee meeting, said, “For months I have been following up on the matter, which is yet to be resolved. I would say that deputy EO Pandey is responsible.”