Nurtured for decades by the small Sikh community,the Indian school in Tehran,converted into a Kendriya Vidyalaya in 2004,is now fighting for survival. Running far below capacity and stretched for funds,KV Teheran one of the three Kendriya Vidyalayas outside India is waiting for the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to bail it out. Though sources indicate that the school may be given Rs 40 lakh soon,red tape is holding back the grant. It was in June 2004 that the Indian Embassy took over the Indian Senior Secondary School,set up by expatriate Indians with the help of the Gurudawara Samiti,and handed over its reins to the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. Sources said this move was prompted by the tightening of norms for minority schools and the dwindling number of Indians in the country. With the Indian community finding it difficult to manage the popular school,the embassy stepped in and the Ambassdor himself became Chief Patron. The schools finances have only gone downhill since. In fact,the have not even been paid their arrears due under the Sixth Pay Commission. Demoralised,the staffers have made several representations to the Government of India and some have even expressed their wish to be repatriated back home, said the sources. Unable to pay back a Rs 15-lakh loan taken three years back,the school has requested that it be made a permanent grant. Even necessary building repairs have been put off, said the source,adding that under the circumstances it was better to shut down the institution. However,the Indian government wants to keep the school running so as not to demoralise the small Indian community there, added the source. The financial problems being faced by the school was taken note on in the minutes of the KVS Board meeting held in January. HRD Ministry also informed KVS that a proposal to provide financial assistance to KV,Tehran had been received from the Ministry of External Affairs and will be finalised immediately. However,the funds have not yet made its way to Tehran.The alumni of the school,meanwhile,are doing their bit with Facebook groups and blogs. Some of them have even appealed to the Indian community to come up with a contingency plan to help the school.
