IMPHAL, November 26: The All Manipur School Management and Development Committee Association, SMDCA has alleged that the state Education Minister is trying to misappropriate the funds meant for Sarva Shikha Abhiyan, SSA by awarding the civil works through nepotism.
In a press statement, the association has further alleged that the Minister have grossly violated the Right to Education’s (RTE) guidelines Manual on Financial Management and procurement as laid down by the Government of India, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy, Ministry of HRD, the Minister with an ulterior motive and for his personal gain, is trying to swept the fund by means of allowing and engaging the contractors for building constructions.
The statement has further said that the association is prepared to put the grievance before the Ministry of Human Resource Authority, National Child Commission, Committee on Implementation of RTE, Act and Students organisation.
It further added that engagement of contractors in construction works under SSA is not allowed under guidelines prescribed. It further maintained that the SSA’s school development civil work should be implemented by community through school management committee.
It continued that SMDC members had filed a writ petition following which the Guahati High Court, Imphal Bench had passed an interim order on August 17 that “It is provided that no contractors should be appointed for civil work under SSA Scheme for the state of Manipur until further orders.
It has further continued, “As directed by the Guahati High Court, the members approached the state Mission Authority to release the said fund to the SMDC which was unheeded.
The SMDC further approached the High Court and the Court had issued notice returnable within one month to the state government to file a reply and failing which the High Court will determine as per available records in favour of the petitioner, it said.
While appealing to all concerned to look into the issue and that the Education Minister has deprived the right of the general public.