01 Jul 2024  |   06:58am IST

Opposition slams Edu Dept for ‘pressurising’ schools to open private bank accounts

Team Herald

MARGAO: The opposition in Goa has strongly condemned a circular issued by the Education Department that directs schools and educational institutions to open bank accounts exclusively with a private bank. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yuri Alemao and Goa Forward Party (GFP) spokesperson Durgadas Kamat have demanded the immediate withdrawal of this directive, citing concerns over the government's alleged agenda to promote private banks at the expense of nationalised banks.

Yuri Alemao criticized the circular as a move to allegedly further the marketing targets of a BJP leader's wife associated with the Bank. He questioned the rationale behind the government's selective promotion of the Bank and demanded Chief Minister Pramod Sawant explain the benefits of this choice over other banks. Alemao argued that schools and institutions should have the freedom to choose their banks, warning of potential risks if private banks face financial instability.

“What is the difficulty in allowing schools and institutions to have bank accounts of their choice? Who will take responsibility if the private banks go bankrupt someday? Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant needs to answer these important questions,” said Alemao. He emphasised that all banks, including nationalised ones, offer online transaction facilities that can support government schemes like the "Mukhyamantri Guru Dakshina Yojana."

The GFP echoed these sentiments, with spokesperson Durgadas Kamat condemning the government's insistence on the Bank. He pointed out that this circular had been introduced before but was shelved following media exposure by GFP Vice President Dilip Prabhudesai in April 2023. Kamat suggested that external pressures from Mumbai or Delhi might be influencing the Goa government’s decision.

“Why is the government obsessed with this particular bank? Is someone from Mumbai or Delhi pressurising the Goa government to force schools to open their accounts in this private bank instead of the government's own nationalized banks? We condemn the act of the government. They cannot dictate terms to aided schools/institutions on such matters,” stated Kamat. 

Alemao also warned the Director of Education against yielding to government pressure and issuing circulars that promote private sector banks. 

He held that any fraud occurring as a result of this directive would make the Director responsible. Both opposition leaders insisted that the choice of bank accounts should be left to the discretion of the respective schools and institutions.

Kamat added that after the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led government has imposed a series of anti-people decisions, such as a power hike and fuel hike and this is another such decision.