Javadekar tells schools: Don’t beg from govt, ask alumni for funds

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday, September 14 asked educational institutes to utilise their alumni associations for betterment instead of coming to the government "with a bowl seeking help".

The HRD minister was speaking at a function organised in Pune, Maharashtra by the Jnana Prabhodini School.

"Worldwide, who runs educational institutes? It is the former students. Who run universities worldwide? It is the alumni who have excelled in their respective fields," Javadekar told the gathering. "Such students give back to their educational institutes. This same attitude has been cultivated by Jnana Prabhodhini among its students over the years, and because of the contribution of its former students, the institute is successfully running for the last 50 years," he said.

Javadekar said that there are, however, some schools which keep approaching the government with a bowl seeking help while the real help (alumni) is with them itself.

"It is the responsibility of former students to get associated with their schools or colleges and contribute for its betterment. It is also important for a school or college to cultivate that attitude in its students," the minister said.

The Opposition Congress was quick to slam Javadekar’s comments, saying “Modi Govt doesn't have funds for Education, doesn't have funds for Armed Forces, has no money for farmers but has spent ₹4,343 crore on publicity since it came to power”. Congress leader Shama Mohammed said, “Mr Javadekar, why does your govt hound people for more taxes, why don't you ask corporates and the mining mafia for funds to run the govt?”

Inputs by NH Web Desk