No fund utilization; tinned-fish, noodles or cash for midday meals
Minphong Konyak, Press Asstt. Shansham Organisation, Mon
With the aim to educate all by 2010, the SSA was introduced in 2002. With great anticipation, the VEC and the church were give responsibility to make this scheme a complete success. Under this scheme, lots of funds were sanctioned to impart education, building school-infrastructure, supplying schooling materials etc. But observing the present status of government schools around Mon District, it can be rightly pointed out that the SSA scheme has not been utilized at all.
According to sources including Trainer of Teachers (TOTs) hefty amounts Rs 3,60,000 for two –room constructions, Rs 1, 80,000 for one room constructions, Rs 20,000 for toilets, Rs 40,000 for a boundary wall, Rs 15,000 for water facilities etc have been allotted since the year 2002. However, no or very less signs can be seen of the works for which the financial assistance was granted. Besides, compulsory grants for teachers and schools, issuance of text books for students, schoolbags for girl-students etc were allotted every year bout none of these have been properly used. For instance, school bags issued to Government school girl students are being used by children studying in private schools. Moreover, mid-day meal scheme remains a far cry. No school is providing midday meals except in some “rare cases”. There is a report from a certain village that only about 17 canes of tinned-fish were given and in some villages, noodles or cash. But these were provided only once in a year and the supplied food-items are of course non-protein. Also, awareness campaigns for villagers (allotted Rs 9000 for this), is never conducted and the funds always misused. Alternative schooling or Education Guarantee Scheme undertaken by the KBBB is also reportedly a failure.
In view of these problems, it can be noted that VEC and the Church has much to answer for the failure. Most of the VECs are both extremely and ignorant, observers opined. Thus, they failed to rightly utilize the SSA scheme. The pitiable conditions of all the Government schools show the misuse of funds by the VECs. There is no single sound school building and other amenities like furniture etc and there is nothing like boundary walls in any schools. The VEC simply do nothing but squander the fund and with this ill-gotten money, they send their children to standard private schools while poor children are denied their constitutional rights, observers opined adding that church leaders in charge of alternative schooling or Education Guarantee scheme are also to be blamed as well. It is reported that most of the clergy members are unaware as far as the true objective of SSA is concerned. Thus, their ignorance leads to mishandling of the funds meant for educational purposes to some other developmental works. But of course their reports on work progress are excellent.
Besides corruption and ignorance of responsible persons, the common villagers too are to be blamed. They seem either ignorant or uninterested of the scheme which ultimately contradicts the principle of participation and contribution that the scheme demands. In fact, this is because VEC does not recognize awareness campaigns for villagers although fund (Rs 9000) is provided every year. Besides, it is reported that VEC never receive the actual amount allotted due to corruption at the district and state level.
In retrospection, it can be rightly pointed out that corruption is the root cause of the failure of the scheme. Ignorance of villagers also contributes to this as well. Therefore educating villagers about the scheme must be the first priority before implementation. The Anghs (village chiefs), student leaders, Church leaders, GBs etc must be well-informed about the source, purpose and implementation aspects of the scheme. Besides, village opposition leaders (political parties) must be well-trained fro check and balance. Otherwise, most VECs are pro-ruling-party and in the absence of a strong opposition, it is obvious that funds would be squandered. Villagers too must be taught to inculcate a sense of involvement and contribution towards the scheme and especially the educated ones must spread awareness to all. Moreover, persons involved must be held accountable for the misuse of funds and the amount should be recovered. Otherwise, government schools will still lag 50 years behind private schools even though so much resources and efforts are applied.
Morung Express News
