Centre to probe ‘embezzlement’ of funds in Punjab, says Jakhar
Friday, 07/06/2013
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=71891&boxid=57526&uid=&dat=2013-06-07
Chandigarh : Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister M Pallam Raju on Thursday assured a delegation of Punjab Congress to probe the allegations of embezzlement of the funds of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) by Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka.
“Raju was shocked to know the facts of the case and assured that matter would be probed,” claimed CLP leader Sunil Jakhar, who led the delegation.
In a memorandum to the Union Minister, signed on behalf of Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa, the main opposition party demanded a CBI probe into the infamous book scam running into crores of rupees.
“The Minister said he would send fact finding committee to Punjab,” said Jakhar here this evening.
The delegation told Raju that scam in Punjab Education Board had rocked the state. “The investigation had brought to fore Rs 9.28-crore embezzlement in supply of library books to government schools, flouting all norms laid down under SSA funds. Similarly, a whopping Rs 7.56 crore had been misappropriated under RMSA in the supply of science kits to 756 government schools,” the Congress leaders submitted.
The memorandum stated, “The modus operandi in siphoning off, embezzling and misappropriating both central funds is similar, under the written instructions of the Education Minister”.
It further accused the Education Minister of “bypassing the Director General School Education (DGSE) Punjab, appointed a three-member committee comprising his loyal officers and directed them to proceed with tendering for books as well as science kits. Tenders were floated in a very low circulation local newspaper, without mentioning the heads of the SSA or RMSA central schemes”.
“Dubious firms who had no experience in dealing with books were awarded the tenders at costs much more than that of the market, both of the books as well as the science kits for students,” the memorandum alleged.
The Congress delegation apprised the HRD Minister that “forced to act under immense public pressure”, Punjab Chief Minister had ordered a judicial inquiry, headed by a retired judge with “doubtful track record and known close friend of CM”.
