It is clear that the Centre does not want government bodies such as the Railways to directly run schools and hospitals. The Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Bibek Debroy has repeatedly argued along these lines. Ministers at the Centre have expressed the same view with respect to Railway hospitals. In line with such an approach, the status of nine Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) being run by the Defence Research Development Organisation has come under a cloud, with parents being refused admission at the ‘plus two’ level. While it is not clear whether the schools are being shut down in a phased manner, the prevailing official view is that such institutions should be run directly by the ministries concerned.

This does not make sense. Railways and defence staff are required to work in remote areas and should be provided with quality schools and hospitals so that they can ably discharge their duties there. The interests of employees and their wards are best served when their employer manages them, as it ensures accountability. It has been generally observed that schools and hospitals directly under the control of set-ups such as the Railways or DRDO are better run than those directly run by the Central or State bureaucracies. Since the general public accesses these institutions, they emerge as models of quality in remote regions.

To ensure quality and larger welfare spin-offs, senior PSU officials should be made to send their wards to KVs managed by their organisation. The well-to-do can enforce accountability in a way that the less privileged cannot. But the Centre seems to be moving the other way — with the idea of turning all services into PPP arrangements. The virtues of ‘common schooling’, where diverse classes and communities cohabit the same space, have been forgotten. Welfare has acquired a bad name.

A SrinivasSenior Deputy Editor

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