The delay stems from a severe budget deficit faced by the civic education department. While the total estimated cost to provide all items—including raincoats and sweaters—was projected at ₹9.69 crore, the available fund under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme is restricted to only ₹6.33 crore.
Thane: Over two months into the new academic year, thousands of students across Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) schools remain without essential educational materials, water bottles, and lunchboxes.
The delay stems from a severe budget deficit faced by the civic education department. While the total estimated cost to provide all items—including raincoats and sweaters—was projected at ₹9.69 crore, the available fund under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme is restricted to only ₹6.33 crore.
To manage the shortfall, the administration approved a ₹6.18 crore proposal to cover basic educational supplies, water bottles, and lunchboxes for students from Balwadi (pre-primary) up to Class 8. However, seasonal necessities like raincoats and sweaters have been excluded from the current distribution plan. Initial proposals had also excluded 9th and 10th-grade students due to the crunch, though recent all-party meetings aim to secure additional grants to cover high schoolers.
The crisis affects a total of 194 TMC schools, comprising:
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