Haryana risks losing Rs 14.80 crore for schools

The Haryana government is facing a potential loss of Rs 14.80 crore that has been set aside for buying sports equipment and upgrading infrastructure in government schools. This money is at risk of lapsing because it must be used by March 31, just a week away. The Haryana School Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad (HSSPP) recently released the funds to district education offices. However, sources say that the short timeframe makes it unlikely the formalities for procurement can be completed. After releasing the funds, district offices have only seven to eight official days to act. The process to utilize these funds includes several steps. School management committees must prepare a list of needed equipment, which then must be approved through various channels. Officials warn that rushing this could compromise the quality of the materials purchased, affecting the sports and activities calendar in schools. Education department officials have indicated that completing this process should have started much earlier, ideally by June. As of now, the situation is concerning, and if the funds are not used, they will be returned to the treasury. The education and parliamentary affairs minister, Mahipal Dhanda, was not aware of this issue but promised to investigate. He expressed concern over the students' needs and the proper use of state funds, pledging to ensure optimal allocation of the released amount.