Candidates contesting the upcoming civic body elections from Ahmedgarh, Amargarh and Malerkotla seem not to be aware of a councillor’s role in local education setup.
Many of the candidates admitted to not knowing their role in seeking grants for uplifting standard of education in their area, councillors being appointed to school management committees or anganwadi workers being appointed on their recommendation.
Additionally, some schools were earlier run under direct control of the municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
Deepak Sharma, a former councillor who is contesting elections from Ahmedgarh once again, maintained most of his colleagues remained preoccupied in getting development projects sanctioned and implemented, and rarely took interest in functioning of schools and anganwadis.
Pawan Kumar, an Independent nominee from Amargarh, feigned ignorance about the role of councillors in uplifting standard of education at private schools receiving financial aid from the government.
According to the norms, school principals and in-charges have to constitute parent-teachers associations and school management committee, with elected members of civic bodies as chairperson and members.
Ahmedgarh Municipal Council officials said the government primary schools at Vishwakarma Mandir and Sushil Basti were earlier under direct control of the Local Bodies Department.
Currently, workers and helpers at anganwadis are appointed on recommendation of councillors of the respective wards.
Former Ahmedgarh Municipal Council president Vikas Krishan Sharma said none of his colleagues had ever approached him to seek help in improving facilities at schools in the wards concerned.
Voting for the civic body elections is scheduled for May 26.
