Friday, April 10, 2009

Universalizing education: Scam worth crores surfaced in education department

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Doda: A scam of Rs 1.38 crores has allegedly surfaced in the education department of erstwhile Doda district, where the authorities say they have no whereabouts of the funds released by the government for the disbursement among the Education Volunteers (EVs) engaged under centrally sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.
While the Education Volunteers are without any salary from 2006 to 2007, authorities say that the funds have been released for the disbursement. A major portion of funds released by the government has not reached to the ends and the EVs are now wondering as where the money has vanished.
With an effort to universalise elementary education by community-ownership of the school system the government launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. But the scheme which was in fact a response to the demand for quality basic education all over the country seems to have only added to the luxuries of Babus in the government department.
If sources are to be believed honorarium to more than one thousand workers have not been paid w.e.f August 2006 to March 2007 forcing the volunteers to run from pillar to post.
As per the official record 1412 volunteers were engaged in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan scheme out of which 641 were in Doda district, 300 in Ramban and 471 in Kishtwar.
Official record further reveals that at present there is total liability of Rs 13842300.00 in all the three district of Chenab valley. District Doda which is comprised of 10 education zones Assar, Bhaderwah, Bhagwah, Bhaila, Bhaleesa, Bhatyas, Doda, Ghat, Gundna and Thathri has total liability of R 5147600.00, whereas Kishtwar having 7 education zones Drabshalla, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Marwah, Nagseni, Padder, Warwan has total liability Rs 6222200.00 and In Ramban Distt for 5 education zones Banihal, Batote, Khari, Ramban, and Ukhral total liability is Rs. 2472500.00.
Doda and Bhaderwah zone have been shown in the records as having the zero liability whereas Bhatyas is with highest liability of Rs 1525000.00.
In Ramban district education zone Ramban is having maximum liability of Rs. 711000.00, whereas in Kishtwar district Inderwal zone with 1644000.00 and Drabshalla with 1319000.00 are the zones with maximum liabilities.
The education volunteers who were being paid a meager amount of Rs 1000 per month as honorarium and in return they were performing their duties in tough conditions and inaccessible areas are now running from pillar to post to get the honorarium.
Most of the volunteers alleged that the funds released under the head of their honorarium have been diverted in construction or purchase head. They even approached the State Project Director who vide his letter no Edu/SPD/SSA/98831/09 dated 3-3-2009 has asked few zonal education officer to come with relevant records to the office for cross checking the allotment and utilization.

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