Letter of 04.02.2004 to Secy MoHRD, President's Secretariat, Planning Commission 

Secretary, MoHRD

Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi

Sub: Education resources: 2% cess from the nation and misuse in the Capital

Ref: My letter of 23.06.2004 to you, also forwarded to you by President’s Secretariat

Dear Sir,

With reference to a news report about MoHRD support for a GNCTD initiative, I had written to you on 23.06.2004 to point out the statutory scheme for equal access neighbourhood schooling in Delhi. In this I had also requested comment on a note of 16.06.2004 on how this scheme (central government responsibility and tantamount to national guideline by virtue of Parliament approval of Delhi Master Plan under Delhi Development Act, 1957) is consistent with NCMP and sought clarification about allocation and monitoring of education resources in context of, on one hand, the 2% cess decision and, on the other, wasteful expenditure in the Capital itself despite a statutory framework for optimal resource absorption. I had copied this letter to all to whom the note of 16.06.2004 was sent and President’s Secretariat also forwarded it to you for appropriate action (letter P1/B-224072 of 29.06.2004). Sub-optimal / illegal initiatives in the Capital continued.

On 27.10.2004 Delhi High Court disposed off our PIL (mentioned in note and letter of 16.06.2004) for the statutory scheme and rectification of violations getting in its way with directions for stopping violations in 12 weeks. Sub-optimal / illegal initiatives in the Capital now continue past this court order as well (cf, our enclosed letter of 03.02.2004 to GNCTD).

The shrill discourse in name of, but premised on stout denial of a statutory solution for, equal education does sadly seem spawned by reluctance to rectify illegal “policies” for misuse of public land needed, meant and leased in name of President for equal education in the Capital – leaving also little basis for confidence in proper utilization of the 2% cess.

In view of the above, I seek reply to / appropriate action on my communication of 23.06.04.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma, Planner

Encl.

  1. Letter of 03.02.20051
    to GNCTD cc DDA, with enclosed letter of 28.12.2004 (2p)
  2. Letter of 23.06.20042, with enclosed note and letter of 16.06.2004 (7p)

cc:

  • President’s Secretariat (for favour of information wrt to P1/B-224072 of 29.06.2004 and letter of 19.01.20053
    , also enclosed for ready reference)
  • Planning Commission (wrt presentation at expert round table discussion on 24.08.2001)
  • MPISG and AZ-Plan web (for information wrt to MPISG PIL)

Ms Suman Swarup,
Pr Adviser (Education) Planning Commission, Yojna Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 110001

Sub: Education resources: 2% cess from the nation and misuse in the Capital

Dear Madam,

I am enclosing herewith my communication to Secretary MoHRD on the above subject.

This emanates from citizens’ initiatives since 2000, also described in my presentation at the experts round table discussion on 24.08.2001 for the Commission’s report of 2002 on Delhi’s slum problem. That report made the connection between the problem and the failure to implement, even acknowledge the existence of, the statutory solution for it. That failure continues and the same marks other urban issues, including equal access education. These prolonged failures are making for incapability to comprehend the import and intricacies of holistic statutory urban planning frameworks that guarantee equity and efficiency in resource allocations in space and time, guarantees that “alternatives” have not so far matched.

It is out of concern equally about this drift in planning practice and about sub-optimal investments in urban education that I am enclosing this communication, on which I would deeply appreciate your view, in the hope that the Commission finds it worthy of intervention.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Gita Dewan Verma, Planner

cc:

Mr A K Mishra, Pr Adviser (HUD), wrt to report / discussion on slums, in continuation also of recent communications apropos informal sector in the same context

  • 1. Letter to GNCTD and DDA about compliance
    We now ask for the fact of non-compliance in our PIL to be placed before the court – for it to judge bonafide of continuing litigation in name of equal education in Delhi without reference to the statutory scheme for it. To us the exclusive “discourse” on education in the Capital appears not to reflect the sentiment of those who remain committed to the constitutional commitment for education for all and seems no more than diversionary tactic spawned by obvious reluctance to rectify misuse of public land required, meant and often leased in name of President of India for equal education... this also reflects extremely poorly on the UPA government’s capability for minding education resources such as the 2% cess.  

    http://skel.architexturez.net/pst/61bb28ff-af1d-4384-a59a-23ecc3f422f2
  • 2. Letter to MoHRD
    Dated 23/06/2004, also forwarded by President's Secretariat for appropriate action as per letter of 29/06/2004 

    http://skel.architexturez.net/pst/6f2c4417-d72a-481c-95e1-2eaa94612165
  • 3. Petition to President
    http://skel.architexturez.net/pst/8fec439f-5393-4a18-ab7d-7e712aeb6c8c