IMPHAL, April 18:Wahengbam Joykumar, an individual litigant, filed an application to the State Public Information Officer, Department of Education seeking information on the reasons behind scams and malpractices of textbooks publishers who were given the contract to produce books meant for students of weaker sections.
These books prescribed by Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM), are still not available. Information on why is being sought under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Joykumar, Wangkhei Hijam Leirak in his application filed to the SPIO today stated that textbooks meant to be provided to the weaker sections and girl students under SSA are available in open market and bookstores but not to the students of weaker section and girl students which they are meant to be.
Joykumar demanded that reasons be furnished leading to such scams and malpractices along with names and designations of the officials involved in the said scams/malpractices as according to official records. He also enquired if any action has been taken up against officials involved in the scam and asked why any action has not been taken up against the officials involved in the scam and malpractices.
He also stated that textbooks prescribed by BOSEM are not available in the open market even though the new academic session has already been started causing irreparable loss to the students and demanded copies of orders issued by the concerned authority for making availability of school textbooks in open market along with the names and designations who were responsible for the printing of the said textbooks or furnish he names and designations of the officials who are responsible for the same.
He also stated in the application if any action has been taken up against officials leading to scarcity of textbooks and demanded the copy of action taken report if any action was taken or furnish why no action has been taken till date.
