JD(S) MLC K. Vivekananda has alleged that students in government pre-university colleges in the State are struggling due to delays in the distribution of science and language textbooks, even as the academic year has progressed.

The MLC said he had learnt that science textbooks had not been distributed to PU Science students in 131 government colleges in his constituency, covering Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts. “In some colleges, language textbooks too had not been supplied,” he said. “When the issue was brought to the notice of officials, I did not get a clear reply. The government must ensure that textbooks are supplied before colleges commence and that their distribution is completed simultaneously,” he said.

Raising the issue in the Legislative Council on Monday, Mr. Vivekananda received a reply from School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa that the government had taken note of the non-distribution of textbooks in some colleges, and steps had been initiated to supply them immediately.

The Minister said that against the requirement of 27,22,363 copies of textbooks, 13,72,096 copies had been distributed.