Patna: The Bihar government is preparing a proposal to establish a dedicated fund for the reconstruction of government schools damaged by floods, as it looks to reduce delays in restoring educational infrastructure in the state’s flood-prone districts.
According to the Education Department, the proposal will be submitted to the Union Ministry of Education, seeking regular financial assistance from the Centre to ensure that damaged schools can be repaired or rebuilt without waiting for separate approvals after every flood.
Proposal Seeks Dedicated Central Funding
Officials said the department is drafting a detailed proposal that would provide a fixed and recurring source of funding for schools affected by floods.
According to the department, preliminary discussions on the proposal have already taken place with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The state now plans to formally request a dedicated financial mechanism to support post-disaster reconstruction.
Officials said such a system would allow rebuilding work to begin immediately after floods, helping schools resume normal operations sooner.
Why the Government Wants a Permanent Fund
Bihar experiences widespread flooding almost every year, particularly in districts affected by the Ganga, Kosi, Gandak and other major rivers.
According to the Education Department, school buildings are frequently damaged by floodwaters, while many campuses are temporarily converted into relief camps during emergencies. As a result, classes often remain suspended for extended periods even after floodwaters recede.
Officials said the absence of immediately available funds has often delayed repairs, affecting students’ access to education.
State Currently Bears Reconstruction Costs
At present, the Bihar government arranges funds independently to rebuild schools damaged by floods.
According to the department, this process can be time-consuming because funding has to be arranged separately after each disaster.
Officials believe that a permanent corpus supported by the Centre would allow reconstruction to begin more quickly and reduce interruptions to academic activities.
Support Sought for Schools Damaged in 2017 and 2020
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the state also plans to seek financial assistance for schools that suffered extensive damage during the major floods of 2017 and 2020.
According to the minister, the Education Department will prepare a list of affected schools and submit it to the Centre. Schools that have remained damaged for years could then be reconstructed using financial assistance received under the proposed arrangement.
The government said many schools affected during those floods sustained structural damage, including collapsed walls and damaged classrooms, disrupting education in several districts.
New Buildings Planned for Schools Without Campuses
Alongside the proposal for flood-affected schools, the Education Department is also working to improve infrastructure at schools that do not have their own buildings.
Officials have asked district administrations to identify schools currently operating from shared or “tagged” campuses. According to the government, these schools could receive new buildings funded by the state.
The department said the objective is to provide students with improved learning facilities while addressing infrastructure gaps across Bihar.
What’s Next
The Education Department is expected to finalise and submit its proposal to the Union Ministry of Education in the coming weeks.
If approved by the Centre, the funding mechanism could enable faster reconstruction of flood-damaged schools and help restore classroom teaching more quickly after natural disasters. Officials said the proposal is intended to strengthen the resilience of Bihar’s education system in one of India’s most flood-prone states.
