Dimapur, August 15 (MExN): The Department of Education, Mon reacting to charges of malpractice and corruption in the functioning of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), stated that such are contradictory to the objectives, implementation and achievements of the department of the district. In the light of the allegations leveled, the department issued a clarification of certain counts.
In regard to awareness camp, the SSA stated that in March 2004, a sum of Rs 9000 was released to 96 villages along with proper guidelines for utilization. It was clarified that fund for awareness campaigns is a one-time grant and not sanctioned yearly as noted by the writer. SSA being a new project, creating awareness among the community is a requisite fro effective and successful implementation of all activities it stated. So with a view to create awareness, the District Mission Authority (DMA) conducted seven trainings/awareness programmes between December 2003 and March 2006 (programme venue, date and theme given in clarification). The SSA also informed that SSA personnel in EBRCs also undertake timely visit to schools for monitoring and supervising activities within respective jurisdiction. Besides, the DMA Mon has published and distributed books (four) for creating awareness in the district.
In regard to the school bags, it was clarified that they were received from the State Mission authority and distributed to girl-students of Government schools for the last 2 years as per enrolment of the schools. It was, however, stated that there are certain cases of the bags being used by students of private schools and might be from “his/her friends/family circle”.
On the release of funds, the Mon SSA stated that every fund received from the government through the SMA against different heads is credited directly to the respective saving account of the Education Committees with proper sanction order copy and guidelines for utilization and that every civil work activity is inspected by the JE and photo album of the activities is maintained. In this case, the SSA stated that the question of corruption either in the state level or district level does not arise. While questioning how the source of information, Trainer of teachers, could have limited knowledge about the projects could be serving in the department, the SSA regretted that the charges should have been verified for reliability prior to going to press.
The SSA also clarified that for the implementation of AIS, the SMA tied up with NBCC with a memorandum of understanding signed. As such the KBBB was given the responsibility of implementing AIS in Mon. In this direction, the KBBB opened 28 residential centers and 68 non-residential centers covering 96 villages. A total of 9146 children were enrolled in 2005-2006 out of which 2562 students were mainstreamed. Considering the problems prevailing in the district, this is an achievement worth the action taken by the KBBB and not a total failure as charged, the department asserted.
On the matter of mid-day meal scheme, the department further clarified that it is carried out as and when the department releases the same to the district. As such, within the last 2 years, mid-day meals including utensils were issued ten times to schools. The scheme is issued in the presence of the Chairman and teacher In-charge of the schools under the supervision of the SISs, it was stated. The SSA department however expressed regret that the Education department in the district could not ascertain the presence/absence of protein in the food items issued under the scheme the department lacks manpower and testing facilities for the same.
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