Early Times Newspaper Jammu
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SSA funds worth lakhs meant for construction of toilet complexes in schools embezzled
CEO Kishtwar constituted four member inquiry committee to probe the matter
Asif Iqbal Naik

Jammu Jan 28: In a glaring example of open loot of state exchequer, the officials at the helm of affairs in School Education Department during the year 2015-2016, 2016-17, & 2017- 2018 in Kishtwar District embezzled funds worth several lakhs meant for the construction of toilet complexes in schools and for building additional construction in the schools.
As per the details available with Early Times, the government of India under National flagship scheme through Serva Siksha Abyan (SSA) provided funds worth several lakhs for construction of separate toilets for Boys and Girls in majority of schools in Kishtwar District for which an amount of Rs. 85000 each has been provided to number of schools while at the same time for construction of Headmaster rooms in middle and High schools were provided with the additional funds to the tune of Rs.2.85 lakhs each.
The official sources told the Early Times that in some schools where the strength of the students are very high— even 5 such toilet complexes within the school premises were constructed added that some toilet complexes also cost around Rs. 2.15 lakh each with proposal of construction of water tanks.
The sources further said that the officials at the helm of the affairs including the two CEOs who remain posted in Kishtwar District withdrew the money against these structures even though construction took place only up plinth level in some cases while in many cases the money has been withdrawn without execution of the works.
The official sources told the Early Times that around Rs. 4.80 Cr has been sanctioned for Kishtwar District by the Education Department under SSA and as per well coordinated conspiracy, the majority of this amount has been given to Drabshalla Education Zone from where with the help of concern ZEOs posted in this Education Zone during the said period embezzled the money meant for the welfare of the schools as well as for the students.
One of the employee posted in Education Zone Drabshalla confirm you Early Times that money has been provided for the 65 schools, but he did not provided any other details with regard to construction of Headmaster rooms and other welfare activities in the zone against which the money provided under SSA has been withdrawn.
Speaking to Early Times, the incumbent CEO Kishtwar said that after the matter come to his notice, he order an immediate probe into the matter to be conducted by the four member committee headed by Dy. CEO Kishtwar Rajinder Singh, Principal GHSS Kishtwar Kishore Kumar, ZEO Padder Subash Sharma and Sr. Assistant DIET Kishtwar Kavi Raj. He said that once the inquiry committee submitted its inquiry report, the next course of the action will be decided accordingly.
The SSA scandal in Kishtwar Education department surface after much hyped scandal in Education Zone Inderwal wherein around 63 teachers were found holding fake degrees, but are withdrawing their salaries regularly with the blessings of the concern DDOs as authorities fail to initiate any action against these politically influential employees engaged on fake certification. Beside this a senior I/C ZEO posted in the District also holds the fake PG degree from Magad University Bodhgaya. The officer is continuously calling shots in the department as authorities fail to initiate the action against this senior officer— the reason best known to them