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| Education fund for 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' spent on babus' cars, bungalows, luxury | | Out of Rs 1200 cr received from Centre, Rs 400 cr spent on ground; HRD Ministry initiates inquiry | | Mohammad Sammi
JAMMU, Oct 1: The Union Ministry of Human Resources and development has initiated an inquiry into the manner in which funds from the centrally sponsored scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) have not been utilized on ground and the irregularities in both Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Mahdyamik Shikhsa Abhiyan (RMSA) in Jammu and Kashmir State. However, the HR department has not released the funds for this year, sources in the department says that the state education department has failed to spend the full amount in various schemes for which funds were released, he said the proposal was submitted by the state government and on their demand the HR department has released the funds but until the previous released fund is not recovered we will not release and approve the further fundings for the schemes mentioned in the proposal submitted by the state government this year. He said the project Director of SSA was told to send the utilization certificate to us but till date the details have not been received. Meanwhile, an expert panel, formed by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) in a report has described the scheme as "fraudulent", plagued with "malpractices and corruption". It rated Jammu and Kashmir the worst. Officials used funds meant for spreading primary education through the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to buy expensive cars and bunglows their well-furbished
offices more akin to those of corporate houses. In fact, some district offices which had no electricity had photocopier and Laptops , all this while the children returned home hungry deprived of their mid-day meals. The report further says that Some officers hired expensive taxis for themselves. The committee also found discrepancies in the high enrolment and low drop-out numbers quoted by the state governments. However Jammu and Kashmir Government has miserably failed to set up infrastructure in educational sector under centrally sponsored program - Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) - despite massive funding from the Centre, About 43 percent civil works have been completed under Centre's flagship scheme in the state. This implies that there is possibility of substantial funds remaining parked at district and sub-district levels. The works sanctioned since 2002-03 are also pending. The Centre has released Rs 1200 cr but the state government has utilized only Rs 400 crore on ground. Meanwhile, when contacted Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said these were shocking allegations, during my recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir I have told the state government to report about the whereabouts till date. I have not received any response from them, Will tell my secretary to remind them again, The department has also launched an immediate inquiry to ensure the money has not been misused.
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