Gurgaon: While funds allocation for Haryana govt schools – under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme – was meant for improving sports facilities, the timing turned it into a logistical nightmare. Around 14,000 govt schools – known for their sports accolades – across the state found themselves in a quandary. By March 31, they were asked to procure sports items worth Rs 12.8 crore for the financial year 2025-26. The problem: The direction came on March 30 at 6.30pm, while the actual funds were credited into their account around 11.30am on Tuesday (a govt holiday), leaving the school authorities with hardly any time to procure these items. On top of it, these schools were supposed to constitute a six-member committee to assess and finalise the requirement of sports equipment/facilities. In Gurgaon, where 566 schools collectively received Rs 50 lakh, the situation was no different. “The funds came but almost as if they weren’t meant to be used,” a teacher remarked. As per norms, schools must follow a detailed process before spending such funds, including convening a school management committee (SMC) meeting with the chairperson, school head and other members present, assessing requirements and obtaining quotations for procurement. With only a few hours at their disposal, most schools found it nearly impossible to comply with these requirements. Teachers said the lack of time and procedural constraints meant that many institutions could not utilise the funds at all, pushing the budget to the brink of lapsing. District Primary Teachers’ Association president Ashok Prajapati termed the move impractical, pointing out that, “Informing schools late in the evening and expecting full utilisation the very next day defeats the purpose. The funds could have been released at any time during the academic session, instead of on the last day. This makes the exercise appear more like a formality. The added factor of a public holiday only worsened the situation.“ Officials confirmed that those schools which failed to spend the allocated amount will now have to return the funds. Even in cases where expenditure was made in haste, institutions must produce invoices dated March 31 to validate the spending, failing which the amount may not be considered utilised.
