The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has shrunk the education budget by around 36% in its proposed budget for the financial year 2014-15 that was presented by civic chief Abasaheb Jarhad on Friday.
The civic body's realistic budget has proposed to set aside Rs86.83 crore towards educational development in the city.
The civic body had proposed Rs120 crore in the financial year 2013-14 and the major achievement was completion of four new school buildings while starting off the construction of new school building in the city.
This year, the civic body says that the budget is a realistic one and it will carry out all the important works. "Even though the budget has been curtailed, there will be no effect in the functioning of the education board and all the important works will be carried out," said Amrish Patnigere, deputy municipal commissioner, education.
The most important highlight of the education budget is starting off Yoga classes in its schools. "This is one of the important steps that will help students to cope up with the stress and be fit for their future endeavours," said Patnigere. The civic body's education board will hire specialised yoga teachers who will teach yoga to students.
At present, the civic body has 68 schools including 56 Marathi medium schools, 9 Hindi medium, one Urdu medium and two English medium schools in city and a total 35,235 students are enrolled here. The civic body has also started 17 secondary schools of which 14 schools are Marathi medium, two are both Hindi and Marathi and one is Urdu medium schools. According to sources, the education board will also check the hygienic level in the of school premises and there will likely be provision in its budget for 2014-15.
The NMMC has proposed Rs3.03 crore for the ETC for Physically Challenged children in the coming fiscal. In the budget, there is special provision where the civic body will give disability certificate through ETC and will also start a hearing and speaking room which will be sound proof.
