The Vellore Corporation has given an administrative sanction to the
tune of Rs 2.68 crore, to upgrade the facilities in 56 schools,
including 13 anganwadi centres in the city.

The Corporation
education committee meeting was held at the corporation office on
Thursday. It was headed by the committee president and councillor of
ward 41, K Suriya Achari. Mayor P Karthiyayini, Deputy Mayor V D
Dharmalingam and Commissioner P Janaki Raveendran were among those
present.

During the meeting, discussions on raising the compound
walls in some schools, to address complaints regarding anti-social
activities on the school premises during nights were held. Apart from
this, providing drinking water and sanitation facilities were also
discussed. A total of six resolutions were passed in the meeting. In
Zone 1- Tharapadavedu, developmental works were planned at 20 schools at
a cost of Rs 92.25 lakh, while Rs 30.50 lakh were allotted for the
chosen 7 schools in Zone 2- Sathuvachari. An amount of Rs 69.70 lakh was
allotted for 8 schools in Zone 3 – Vellore and Rs 73 lakh was allotted
for 8 schools in Zone 4- Shenbakkam.

Thirteen anganwadi centres
were identified in the city and an administrative sanction was issued to
the tune of Rs 2.86 lakh for drinking water and toilet facilities here.
The above works would be implemented using the Education Committee Fund
for the year 2013-2014, said Suriya Achari.

The members of the
committee, who are also the councillors, discussed deploying a watchman
at all schools, to avoid anti-social activities at school grounds. A
possibility of deploying a separate person for cleaning toilets and
school premises was also explored. But the suggestions were put on the
back burner due to shortage of funds, to outsource personnel for these
jobs.

Commissioner Janaki also ruled out the possibility of
appointing an official exclusively to look into education-  related
activities in the Corporation. She said the Coimbatore City Municipal
Corporation Act, currently followed by the Vellore Corporation did not
insist on appointing an officer to look into the education activities of
the corporation schools.

However, any existing official of the local body could be given this additional responsibility, the commissioner added.