Reconstitution of VEC

School Education Department, Primary Branch, Govt. of West Bengal has issued revised guidelines vide notification no. 840-SE/Pry/2D-I/2007 Dated: 07/08/2008 for constitution and functioning of the village education committee (VEC) and the school level monitoring committee.
The geographical jurisdiction of VEC shall be same as that for the relevant Gram Sansad identified by the State Government- In Bagnan-I block total number of Gram Sansad is now 118 after Panchayat General Election, 2008, before Election it was 143. The term of VEC will be five years. It will be reconstituted every time a Panchayat Election is held. The composition of VEC will be as follows:
(1) GP member from the concerned Gram Sansad- Chairman, if more than one GP member represents the same Gram Sansad, elder member will be the chairman & other will be member. In 24 Gram Sansads under Bagnan-I there are two GP members representing same Gram Sansad.
(2) Head Teacher of the primary school located in the Gram Sansad- Secretary, if more than one primary school located in the same Gram Sansad, senior Head teacher will be the Secretary & other will be member(s).
(3) Siksha Sahayika(s) of SSK functioning in the Gram Sansad- Member(s).
(4) Anganwadi worker(s) of ICDS located in the Gram Sansad- Member(s).
(5) Preraks of the CEC located within Gram Sansad- Member(s).
(6) One member or more from the Managing Committee(s) of nearby upper Pry School(s)/ MSK(s)- Member(s)
(7) All Parents having children of age group (4+ to 13+) - Member(s).
(8) Siksha Bandhu of concerned GP- Member.

The Secretary of the VEC shall convene the meeting of VEC in consultation with the Chairman at a convenient place within the Gram Sansad once in six months, preferably at a time when parents are able to attend. The Panchayat Samity will be responsible for approving constitution of VEC and shall have the power to monitor and evaluate the activities of VECs. Gram Panchayat will be responsible for constitution of VEC in all Gram Sansad areas irrespective of whether formal primary school or SSK exists in the Gram Sansad.
District Project Officer, Sarva Siksha Mission, Howrah has directed vide his memo no. 1569(51)/SSM/CM&AS Dated: 22.08.2008 that reconstitution of VEC and School Level Monitoring Committee shall be completed within 7th September, 2008. Also the signature of Secretary is mandatory while issuing cheques and utilization certificate or transaction of any financial matter.

IGNOAPS

Vide notification No.1497/PN/P/II/3F-9/06 Dated: 01.04.2008 of Government of West Bengal, Department of Panchayats & R.D. all the destitute persons, identified to be 65 years of age or more, as on 1st November, 2007, or earlier, and belonging to BPL households as per the current BPL list prepared on the basis of survey held in the year 2005 and subsequently published in April, 2007 will get monthly pension at the rate of Rs.400/- (Rupees Four Hundred) per month, under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) with effect from 1st November, 2007, subject to ratification by the respective Gram Sansads and subsequent sanction of the respective Gram Panchayats, and that the beneficiaries under erstwhile National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) will continue to get monthly pension under the IGNOAPS at the current rate till they remain alive.
All such persons belonging to BPL households as per BPL list, as modified from time to time, who will attain the age of 65 years, will become eligible for monthly pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) at the prevailing rate from the month of January of the year in which such person attains the age of 65 years; and all persons aged 65 years or more, whose family will be enlisted in BPL list in future, subsequent to any modification in the BPL List, will also become eligible for monthly pension under IGNOAPS from the month from which the modified BPL list will come into operation, subject to the approval of the Gram Sansad and sanction of the Gram Panchayat, having jurisdiction over the area to which such BPL list pertains.
Vide notification no 5278(18)/RD (SGSY)/20M-6/05 – Pt-I dated: 17/07/2007, IGNOAPS beneficiaries will be selected from the persons who attained the age of 65 years as on 1st November, 2007 and whose household total score is 33(i.e. BPL household) in RHS 2.0.0 software database kept at each GP’s computer as published in April, 2007. But in Howrah District fresh claims and objections were exceptionally invited on the basis of resolutions made in several all political party meetings at District level, Block Level and GP level as the BPL percentage was meager 14% in Howrah District. Obviously seven lakh claims were submitted in the District ( twenty thousand in Bagnan-I block). After due enquiry and hearing of all the claims and objections it has been revealed that total score of large segment of households have been less than previous score. Khalil ahmed, IAS and District Magistrate, Howrah has clearly mentioned in his letter no. 3490(28)-C dated 14.08.2008 that State Govt has approved total score 29 as cut off score for BPL household in Howrah district. On the basis of this cut off score, BPL percentage in Howrah District has been increased to 22% from 14%.
While identifying IGNOAPS beneficiaries some Gram Panchayats take print out of BPL list with total score <=33 and filtering manually which household has score <=29. It is undesirable. Some beneficiaries with total score >29 but <=33 may be selected which cannot be approved. Executive Assistants of GP are requested to contact Sri. Arup basak, BIO, MOB: 9239160479 how to get print out from RHS 2.0.0 software with total score <=29. Before disbursing pension to IGNOAPS beneficiaries 1st time, age proof in any Govt. certificate like EPIC, Ration Card etc should be checked and one photocopy should be kept at GP office. Expenditure required for Xeroxing may be made from GP own fund.

Institutional delivery at PHC

Sri. A. K.Deb, IAS & Commissioner, Family Welfare has stated vide memo no. H/440(18)/CFW/2008 dt. 28.07.2008 that institutional delivery is one of the key intervention to reduce maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate and institutional delivery should be started & functional at each BPHC and PHC. In 1st phase in 2008-09 in Bagnan-I, Mankur and Adra PHC have been identified where institutional delivery can be started by September, 2008. At each identified PHC rental accomodation for medical officers & nursing staffs should be arranged with the help of Block Health and Family Welfare Samity, Bagnan-I where the quearters are not available or non habitable. The upper limit of rent should not exceed Rs. 2000/- pm. At Mankur PHC, upgradation is undertaken by Howrah Zilla Parishad but performance is poor and perhaps work will be completed by March, 2009. At Adra PHC, rental accomodation is required for MO & one nursing personnel. Other 2 nursing staffs reside within 2km from PHC. Secondly, each PHC will be linked with one/ two ambulances for referral services. Thirdly, the PHC will be given one mobile phone with rental charges of Rs. 100/- pm. Fourth, One Self Help Group will be engaged at each PHC for cleaning.

Correct report preparation

We should try to ensure correct reporting.....This is the 1st step to implement e-governance. If we are not honest and sincere enough to prepare and publish correct report everything will go futile.