The West Bengal government has requested that state-run and state-aided schools provide detailed information about their landed properties. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive database of the schools’ immovable assets.

Education Minister Bratya Basu explained that the school education department is auditing the land holdings of primary, upper-primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions. This move follows a directive from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who, during the last administrative meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, called for an audit of land under the possession of various departments. The school education department has subsequently initiated this process.

However, the request has raised concerns among some educators. Swapan Mondal, General Secretary of Bangiyo Sikshak and Siksha Karmi Samity, voiced apprehensions about the state government’s true intentions. He questioned why the decision to create a land bank was made suddenly and whether it might undermine the schools’ autonomy.

Despite these concerns, Minister Basu reassured that the state has no intention of interfering in the functioning of educational institutions. He emphasized that the audit is purely for creating an inventory and has no ulterior motives.

Additionally, an official from the higher education department clarified that state universities have not yet been asked to submit details about their immovable assets. This indicates that the current focus is solely on the school-level institutions.

Source: PTI

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