As per an Indian Express report, Rs. 250 crores have gone down the drain as the Aam Aadmi Party’s ‘Model Schools’ project has developed infrastructural problems. AAP had sought to convert 54 government schools into model schools and had handed the job of beatification of these schools to Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC).
Merely 3 years later, the walls have developed cracks in some of the recently completed schools. The issue was brought to notice at a meeting of the coordination committee chaired by the Directorate of Education (DoE) on the 16th of August wherein the heads of the schools were asked to submit details of the “deficiency work”.
According to the minutes of the meeting as stated in the report, “The 13 District Deputy Director Education (DDEs) have informed that there are numerous deficiencies in civil/electrical/plumbing/renovation work done by DTTDC in 54 pilot schools. In fact, big cracks have started appearing in some recently completed schools.”
The report also quoted a Principal, who preferred to remain anonymous, as saying, “They took such a long time to build the schools… after they handed over the building to us, water started seeping in and cracks developed within months. The matter should be inquired by the government.”
Apart from the DTTDC, the PWD has also been pulled up over its shoddy work. “In almost all the schools visited, the quality of whitewash done by the PWD is found to be below standard. In many rooms, whitewash has not been done at all, and very cheap material (chuna) has been used to paint the exteriors,” stated the minutes of the meeting.
In 2015, 54 schools were selected to be developed into ‘Model Schools’ and Rs. 250 crores were allocated for the same. The DTTDC was charged with the charged with the responsibility of renovation of the schools while the PWD was to modify the school infrastructure.
