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| State exchequer looted, reveals SVC investigation | | Construction of schools under SSA | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 11: The investigations, being carried out by State Vigilance Commission (SVC) in construction of schools under SSA, have revealed that norms have been violated and state exchequer looted, sources told Early Times.
They said the government had asked the commission to probe the misappropriation of funds for construction of schools under SSA and to book those who are involved in "looting" the state exchequer.
The said issue was also raised in Assembly in the recently concluded session by one of the members.
Top sources of the Vigilance commission told Early Times that though the investigation is in its initial stage, but the commission has observed that there are scores of such buildings where violation of norms has taken place. "At this point of time though I am not supposed to share more details but yes huge violations have taken place with respect to soil testing, non fulfillment of codal formalities and in the structural designing," a source maintained.
Chief prosecuting officer of the commission when contacted for further details said that since the commission is in Jammu, the full details are not available with him.
A top official of the Vigilance department stated that they have not received the case yet from Vigilance Commission but said that the Vigilance Organization at present is investigating three similar cases. "I do not think we have received the case yet, but yes it may be in the process of investigation with the commission and I think after they will complete investigation the case will be forwarded to us," the official said.
He said that in three similar separate cases, Vigilance Organization has detected misappropriation worth lakhs of rupees. "We have detected misappropriation of Rs 37 lakhs in the construction of building in north Kashmir's Baramulla district under SSA. The case was investigated and concluded," he said and added that the case has been referred to the government for departmental enquiry and punishing the accused.
Meanwhile sources said that almost all the Codal and procedural formalities had been violated in the SSA Programme in Jammu and Kashmir while making the purchases and constructions across the state."I must tell you that a good number of school buildings and classrooms remained incomplete as the funds were either diverted for other purposes or had no account at all. There was zero monitoring of the residential bridge camps and alternate schools. An umpteen number of training sessions were held under the SSA but only few utilization certificates were submitted or advance utilization certificates were submitted at the year end to see release of funds unauthorizedly," one of the insiders of the school education department said and added that the public money was looted in various other forms under the guise of SSA.
He said once the HRD ministry had frozen all the accounts of the Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan as the officials had failed to submit the report about the location and parking of the funds released by the centre.
Sources said that some contractors had also brazenly constructed building in violation of the original planning permits.
One of the government official admitted that money for centrally sponsored scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was misused. "Unfortunately, we had to initiate enquiry into irregularities found in SSA functioning. Huge money was given for the welfare of poor children but the money was siphoned off in different way,'" the official maintained.
According to the official figures available with the Early Times, in 2009-10 the central government has released Rs 37,363.27 whereas the state government has released Rs 18,051.00 in which Rs 54,869.73 was utilized by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
In the year 2010-11 the central government has released Rs 40,358.79 and the state government has released Rs 45,914.00, and Rs 8,000.00 has been received under 13th finance commission in which the Sarva Shiksha officials utilized Rs 64,000.94. cr In the year 2011-12 the central government has released Rs 30,070.51 and the state government has released Rs 39,600.00, and Rs 8500 has been received under 13th finance commission in which Rs 104,722.28 cr was utilized by the Sarva Shiksha unit of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is patient to mention here that in the year 2015 the State Vigilance Commission had also detected alleged embezzlement in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal Schemes in J&K and had directed SSP Crime Branch Srinagar to register a formal case against teachers involved in case.
"SVC has directed SSP Crime Branch Srinagar, for registration of formal case against teachers involved in misappropriation of funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid Day Meal Schemes", the statement of SVC had said. |
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