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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Build ‘model schools’ from PM CARES fund: CJP

Mumbai: In an unexpected surgical strike, the Cockroach Janta Party has questioned why a massive corpus of thousands of crores of rupees, lying in the Prime Minister CARES Fund, is kept idle when there are dire needs for funds in various sectors, particularly government schools – kicking off a new political storm – on Wednesday. CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke today directly asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on what he termed as “so much of public money lying untouched and unutilised” in the PMCF...

Build ‘model schools’ from PM CARES fund: CJP

Mumbai: In an unexpected surgical strike, the Cockroach Janta Party has questioned why a massive corpus of thousands of crores of rupees, lying in the Prime Minister CARES Fund, is kept idle when there are dire needs for funds in various sectors, particularly government schools – kicking off a new political storm – on Wednesday. CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke today directly asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on what he termed as “so much of public money lying untouched and unutilised” in the PMCF while state-run schools across the country continue to struggle for even basic infrastructure. Dipke said an amount of nearly Rs 8,500-cr shown in the PMCF as of March 2025 and demanded why this money could not be deployed for public education and other critical needs. He pointed at how schoolchildren in several parts of India continue to face shortages of drinking water, proper roads and even benches to sit on in classrooms, during his recent visits to some such government schools. “On one hand, Rs. 8,500-cr is lying unutilised, while on the other, children across the country have to demand proper roads, drinking water, benches and other basic infrastructure in schools. Instead this money could be diverted to setting up ‘Model Schools’ which could benefit the students and the society. Dipke contended that if a well-equipped ‘model school’ costs around Rs. 8-cr, the government could build more than 1000 such modern educational institutions with the idling PMCF corpus alone. Endorsing the views, the CJP posted: “So much of the public’s money is lying untouched and unaccounted for in a ‘Private Fund’ called the PM CARES Fund. Public schools cite a lack of funds for their poor condition, yet more than Rs. 8,450- cr. remains unused. If it is the people’s money, why can’t it be used to build and repair schools? Lack of funds was never the problem. Lack of intent is.” The CJP chief emphasised that since the money has come from the people it should ultimately serve the public causes, particularly for the education of the underprivileged children in far flung areas. Dipke’s statement came a day after the PMCF released its audited balance sheets which provided a new round of ammunition even to the Opposition, reviving questions that have shrouded the fund since its creation in March 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdowns. Interestingly, the PMCF balance sheet came days after a CJP leader had claimed in a press conference in New Delhi that the Jantar Mantar 28-day long agitation was allegedly financed from this fund. The PMCF gets no direct budgetary allocation and is funded through voluntary donations, and it is exempted under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FRCA) for which it maintains a separate account to receive overseas donations. Opposition piles on The Congress sought a comprehensive inquiry into the PMCF and alleged a possible nexus between corporate donations to it and awarding of plum government contracts awarded to some of the donor companies. AICC Scheduled Castes Department President and Uttar Pradesh In-Charge Rajendra Pal Gautam also questioned the “very need” for setting up the PMCF when the PM’s National Relief Fund was already operational since Jan. 1948. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Mahua Moitra picked purported flaws in the PMCF balance sheet released: “PM Doesn’t Care. R. 8,452-cr. lying unspent. Balance sheet is UNSIGNED. Some KKC Associates auditors with Gujarati partners Shah & Parekh have not even bothered with signatures, tracking or notes. Outside CAG, RTI or Parliaments scrutiny.” 'Still in the 60s': Dipke claims broken toilet doors, missing taps at Hingoli school Hingoli: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said a government school in Maharashtra's Hingoli district appeared to be stuck in the 1960s after he found broken toilet and classroom doors and missing taps in the washrooms. Dipke, whose group launched the 'School Thik Karo' (improve government schools) campaign last week, visited the school at Kadoli village in his native district on Tuesday. He went to the premises around 7.30 pm, after school hours, and checked the campus. A video of his visit to the school and subsequent interaction with the villagers has surfaced on social media. "It felt as if I was visiting a school in the 1960s. An old tin-roofed toilet, broken doors and no taps in the washrooms. What to do with these washrooms? Those concerned did not do their duty (in maintaining the school premises)," he said. He also had a word of criticism for the local residents. "The villagers are also wrong because they kept quiet," he said.

Stillness Commands the Room

In a world that moves faster than thought, it has become increasingly rare to find individuals who can remain calm under pressure and grounded in the chaos. Yet, when it comes to personal branding — the human brand, not the logos or glossy visuals — this ability is often the very foundation that separates those who rise from those who merely react. Every personal brand, especially at leadership levels, is not built in moments of ease, but in moments of uncertainty.


It is in these very instances — when plans fall through, tempers rise, or outcomes disappoint — that your true personal brand reveals itself. Are you known for your clarity in foggy moments? Or does your brand vanish when things get unpredictable? Clarity is often misunderstood as having a detailed plan at all times. But true clarity is a state of mind. It’s not about knowing all the answers, it’s about knowing how to navigate even when answers are unavailable.


Some of the most respected business leaders didn’t have a full roadmap when they began. What they did have was inner clarity about their values, their intention, and how they wanted to show up — especially when things went wrong. Interestingly, there are moments when not having clarity can also work in your favor.


It opens doors to experimentation, to exploring the unknown without the pressure of perfection. It encourages humility, which in itself is a powerful personal branding trait.


However, living in a prolonged state of confusion, being unable to commit to any path, or flip-flopping constantly — those things dilute your presence. And a diluted presence never becomes a memorable brand. At its core, personal branding is about being remembered for the right reasons. Not the loudest voice in the room, but the most centred. Not the most agreeable person, but the one who knows how to disagree gracefully.


Not the one who always had the plan, but the one who led with grace through ambiguity. The world doesn’t need more perfect people. It needs more authentic, self-aware individuals who know when to speak, when to listen, and when to simply reflect.


Those who invest time in understanding themselves create a brand that is unshakeable — not because they are stubborn, but because they are intentional. In today’s business environment, especially for board members, founders, and C-suite executives, the pressure to perform often drowns out the need to pause. But real power lies in reflection. When the spotlight fades, who are you? When the pitch is over, what does your presence say? Your personal brand isn’t built on what you do when people are watching. It’s built on how you behave when no one is. Maintaining calm in unfavourable situations isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s the differentiator. It shows emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-trust.


It sends out a signal to your team, peers, and stakeholders that you’re not just a doer, but a leader. And in the world of leadership branding, presence is everything. Building your personal brand isn’t a one-time exercise. It’s a lifelong practice of alignment — between who you are and how you show up. Between what you stand for and how you express it. Between your goals and your grit. Clarity might not come overnight, but commitment to the process always pays off.


In times like these, where people are bombarded with choices and attention spans are fleeting, the calmest brand often becomes the most magnetic. So whether you’re reinventing yourself or amplifying what you already are, remember this — personal branding isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being deeply in tune with who you are. That’s the brand that earns trust. That’s the brand that stays.


Are you still unclear about what you wish to do? Stuck in the chaos of everyday life taking each day at a time? Then it’s time for you to take a step back and reflect, focus on how you wish to build a legacy. And if you need help with that, you are just a step away from being helped. All you need to do is reach out to me and we can figure this out together.



(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

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