PANAJI: In a stern warning, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today assured to take action against the aided schools, who are indulged in charging additional cum different fees from students, provided the parents come forward and file complaints.
Responding to media questions with regards to aided schools charging fees, apart from their annual fees, Sawant stated, “If we receive complaints in writing, we will take action,”
In the past, Sawant, who is also education minister, had admitted that aided schools, despite taking grants from the government take money from students in the form of PTA fees, maintenance fees, etc. He had said that besides grants, these schools get a number of facilities from the Government and has no right to change students with extra money.
Meanwhile, speaking on the relocation of the Dev Khapreshwar temple idol in Vodakkodem, Porvorim, to facilitate the construction of the six-lane elevated corridor on NH-66, Sawant said the decision was made to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
“The idol has been relocated, and daily pooja is being performed,” he stated, adding that a newly formed committee will decide on a suitable site for the temple’s reconstruction. Once finalized, the temple will be rebuilt, and a new banyan tree will be planted, as the original could not be relocated.
Addressing concerns about religious rituals before demolition, Sawant said discussions with the temple committee had been ongoing for over a year, and they were aware of the relocation process.
