GUWAHATI, Feb 4 ? An amount of over Rs 35 lakh granted by the Central Government way back in 2001-02 for improvement of Sanskrit Tols in the State and providing scholarships to students and salaries to teachers has remained unused for the three consecutive fiscals including the current one.
Disgusted at the indifferent attitude of the State Government to take steps to improve upon the atmosphere in 81 Sanskrit Tols in the State despite availability of Central fund, Asom Sanskrit Mahasabha has threatened to drag the State Government to the court over the issue.
President of the Mahasabha, Kiron Sharma informed this newspaper that the grant which was revalidated by the Centre at the instance of the State Government for the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04, would lapse in case the State Government fails to utilize it by the end of March next.
?This is outrageous and extremely frustrating for those involved in popularising Sanskrit education in the State as per the traditional way. The funds are lying idle while all Sanskrit Tols in Assam are staring at a bleak future because of financial constraints. We have decided to take legal course against the State Government in this regard,? Sharma said.
The Government of India in response to a proposal sent by Assam Government sanctioned a grant of Rs 35,56,160 for providing scholarships to 100 students of higher classes in Sanskrit Tols, providing salaries to 25 teachers, modernisation of these institutions etc.
The grant was received by the State Government way back in 2001-02 and has remained unutilised till date. In between, in response to the plea of the State Government, the grant was revalidated in the year 2002-03 and 2003-04 by the Government of India.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Human Resources Development in a letter dated August 18, 2003 and addressed to Secretary of Higher Education, Assam stated that the grant would not be extended further if it is not utilised by the end of the financial year 2003-04.