Dimapur, Dec 16 (MExN): Zeme Baptist Church Council, in news for an alleged misuse of SSA fund meant for alternative schooling program, amounting to Rs. Rs 17, 97,995, has reacted to the allegations stating that the council is accused for reasons best known to the accusers. The council through Chairman of the ASP Rev. Kuzierang Thou and Coordinator Hiakie Hegui, has issued a clarification in this regard.
The council, reacting to the charge that the receipt of the SMA fund was not made known to other executives stated that the concern committee discussed in detail the program to the executive council on May 4, 2006 and passed a resolution (numbered 10) for an internal audit and accordingly the first audit was made on June 3, 2006 by ZBCC-authorized auditors and this has to be reported in the forthcoming ZBCC annual council. On the charge that 23 villages have government schools and do not fall under the purview of Alternative Schooling (AS) to children without schools, the council stated that one must know how many AS centers have been carried out in other towns in Nagaland. As such the ZBCC was allowed to run the AS program in towns and villages where there are government primary schools as well.
In regard to inclusion of villages with RAS implementation in NRAS list ‘indicating duplicity of area of operation’, the council pointed out that in the MoU is indicated that ZBCC can run RAS for the age group 11-14 years and NRAS for the age group 6-10 years and in line with that, SMA provided formats for 11-14 years group and 6-10 group separately. So while filling up these formats, it was found that in a village there were both age groups and needed to be filled up and be submitted to the SMA. Thus, the question of duplicity does not arise, it stated. The council also clarified that it had collected census given by villages and submitted accordingly as provided by village/ward and church authority concerned as directed. If there be any truth in the allegation that nearly 90 % of the names submitted are school drop-outs, or some of them were married people and hence not falling under the 14 age group, why not they be pointed out and complain to the concern village authority, the council asked.
The council also informed that SMA Kohima had clearly given directives to associations in consultations to run AS centers for their members only in bigger villages and towns where there are mixed members of various associations. So, different associations are running their own centers even in one town/village in such situations as directed, the council stated in reaction to the charge that a particular area is under operation of the project by “2-4 councils”. Also, in regard to allegations that RAS in 3 wards in Peren town and 23 villages was not implemented at any point of time, the council clarified that according to allotted amount, the Kohima office has directed councils how much should the office spend for one RS student, for mess and others. The office prepared the budget accordingly and informed RS centers the amount of monthly and weekly mess budget, and disbursed the money after obtaining proper vouchers and signatures. This can be clarified from concern village authorities and pastors whether they were given out, it stated.
On the charge of listing of bogus names of villages, the council stated that some names were given in “short” due to space constraints. However in the “bigger format” full names are listed. The council clarified that “Peren (T) Village is ‘Peren Tampung village while “Peren Ndi” is Peren Ndi colony. New Peren Ndi is not in the list only New Peren. Diuring (P) is Diuring Colony Peren, Nkozaipoi is Nkozai J Poi (Z) etc.
Further, in regard to the charge that vocational training is not being imparted, the ZBCC invited all concern to Peren Main center where children under the age group 11-14 years are camping with 4 full-time volunteer teachers and 3 cooks. The students were given vocational training and the materials made and used by them are sufficient proof.
The council also gave a clean chit to the Deputy Inspector of Schools, Peren. The ZBCC held opinion that the DIS should rather be complimented for her efforts to see educational activities being carried out in the district. When the AS program was inaugurated, the then DIS was the chief guest. Teachers were trained twice once in 2004 and another in 2005 by SSA coordinators and ToTs. After training, classes commenced with subsequent monthly reports were submitted duly signed by government teachers, pastors and AS teachers. DIS Peren after thoroughly checking all activity reports gave a forwarding letter to the ZBCC’s report. “Not only that she joined the office as DIS in march 2006 just before closing the Alternative Schooling for 2005-2006. So she is free from all the allegations” the council stated. Lastly, the council reacting to the charges that “few ZBC gulped down the money…without remorse or compunction” reminded that no person should ‘condemn’ the other without verifying facts, including transaction of money. Any one is welcome to check the accounts any time, the council added.
