Gadchiroli Oct. 1 (District Correspondent) Former MLA and State President of Congress Party’s Tribal Department Dr. Namdeo Usendi has demanded that the schools with enrolment of below 20 students in the state should not be closed down.
Dr. Usendi, along with other workers met the Dy. CM Devendra Fadnavis here today and submitted him a memorandum in this regard.
Gadchiroli district is a naxal dominated and underdeveloped district. There are 630 Zilla Parishad schools with enrolment less than 20 in the district. Such low-enrolment schools are located in remote and hilly areas. In most of the villages there is no transportation facility. As these villages are far from the city, it is very difficult in terms of commuting. The Zilla Parishad school in the village is the only ray of hope for them and closing these schools will ruin the educational future of students. Children can join the Naxal movement if they don’t get education. These schools should therefore not be closed down, demanded Dr. Usendi.
Gadchiroli is a Naxal-affected and remote Adivasi-dominated district, the issues and problems of this district are different from other districts of Maharashtra. Therefore, the solution to those problems also has to be decided in a different way. The problem should be solved by keeping the subject from a different point of view, he demanded.
Dr. Usendi also raised the various other issues in the memorandum. They included-the crop loan of the farmers of the district should be waived off as their crops have badly damaged due to excessive rains. Paddy should be given a bonus of Rs 700 per quintal. Iron ore should not be transported unless the iron ore project at Konsari is completed and an alternative road is constructed for transportation at Surajgad. Vacancies in Health, Irrigation, Education and Revenue Department in Gadchiroli district should be filled in immediately.
He also demanded that Permanent Project Officers should be appointed in Tribal Development Office. Increase in honorarium for ITI students, Medical College in Gadchiroli district should be started at the earliest, Rs. 10,000 per month allowance be given to educated unemployed. 9) Industries in Gadchiroli district should be given tax holiday on the lines of North East state. Wadsa to Gadchiroli railway line should be properly planned and completed in two years in a time bound manner, OBCs should be given 27% reservation in central quota in medical colleges, in order to increase the income of farmers, schemes such as supplementary fish farming, poultry farming, goat rearing, dairy rearing should be implemented on priority basis.
Former district president Hasan Ali Gilani, ZP Vice President Manohar Poretti were also present on the occasion.
Photo Dr. Namdeo Usendi discussing with Mr. Devendra Fadnavis.
