One of the populist Himachal Pradesh Government’s scheme regarding free travel facility to school students came under scanner as Opposition BJP created an uproar over the feasibility on the scheme during Question Hour on the second day of Winter Session of the Assembly here.
One of the senior most BJP MlA, ID Dhiman demanded that the Government should disclose the actual numbers of the beneficiary students who are availing the benefits of the much-hyped scheme and whether time table and routes of the buses are made according to the school timings.
Transport Minister GS Balli in a written reply did not gave the actual number of beneficiaries but said that time table and routes of public transport buses were already in accordance with the school timings.
Dhiman questioned that it is a matter of surprise that Government does not have actual number of school students who are being benefitted under the scheme. Dhiman said that over 12.5 lakh students are studying in different schools.
“Who is bearing the cost of schemeIJ Does the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bearing the cost or State Government is contributing for the scheme,” said Dhiman.
Balli replied that State Government will be paying around Rs30 crore but was unable to give the exact number of beneficiaries.
To this, BJP MlA Mahendra Singh said that HRTC has around 2,100 buses operating but number of students is in lakhs and if all the students are given the facility then 21,000 buses will be required.
“This scheme is a mere eyewash and very few students are actually benefiting. Students pass should be given to the students, so that they can avail the facility,” said BJP MlA Sarween Chaudhary adding that several bus routes have been cancelled by the current Congress Government and students are not getting the facility.
This led to commotion in the House forcing Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to intervene. He said that this was an initiative of the State Government to provide free bus facility to the students so that they can go to the school and come back home on time.
Chief Minister said that the suggestion of students pass is good and will be adopted. “I accept that there is shortage of buses but soon state will be getting around 1,300 buses by which the facility will be given to the students,” he said.