Cheerag Scheme

Senior politicians and teachers’ bodies in Haryana have raised questions on the government’s Cheerag scheme, which was recently launched to offer “free education” to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students of government schools in “budget” private schools.

What is Haryana’s Cheerag scheme?

• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s government recently launched the “Chief Minister Equal Education Relief, Assistance and Grant (Cheerag)” scheme.
• Under the Cheerag scheme, government school students whose parents have an annual verified income of less than Rs 1.8 lakh can enrol in private schools from Class II to XII.
• The government will reimburse Rs 700 per student from Classes II to V, Rs 900 per student from Classes VI to VIII, and Rs 1,100 per student from Classes IX to XII.

What are the concerns over Haryana’s Cheerag scheme?

Haryana Vidyalaya Adhyapak Sangh, a body of government school teachers, is not impressed with the Cheerag scheme and has already staged protests against it across the state. The union leaders have apprehensions that the scheme may be aimed at encouraging private schools at the cost of government schools.