Part 2: Suspected anomalies of crores in installation of drinking water facility in schools of Dima Hasao

HAFLONG: A suspected financial anomaly amounting to at least Rs. 8 crore in the education sector in Dima Hasao District during the financial year 2020-21 is coming to the fore, fund of which was allotted to provide drinking water facilities to 198 LP and ME schools in the district.

According to reports, the amount was released to School Management Committees (SMC) by the Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission to the schools which are under the education department of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. A total of 198 schools were selected and provided with of Rs. 4.5 lakhs each during the financial year 2020-2021 under the project.

The first story of a two part series of InsideNE while reported about the anomaly, the second story reports the version of the accused party.

After Daniel Langhthasa, an elected member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council video-graphed the status of drinking water project by visiting different schools that falls under the scheme, he found that that in many schools work has not even been started. However, the progress reported submitted by Nandita Garlosa, Executive Member (Education Department) shows completion of work atleast 40% to 60% work in these schools.

Also Read: Dima Hasao: Whistle blower points to suspected anomaly of crores in drinking water project

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After the videos of Langthasa went viral in Facebook and received huge attention, B.S . Engti, District Mission Coordinator, of Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission addressed the media at Haflong, headquarter of Dima Hasao district.

Reasons cited for delay in drinking water facility installation

B.S Engti gave three reasons for non- completion of installation of drinking water facilities despite providing fund. Talking to reporter in Haflong he said that due to model code of conduct for the Assam Assembly Polls in March 2021, the funds for drinking water facility installation programme was released to the School Management Committees (SMCs) during the last part of 2021. He said, after the release of the funds, due to pandemic induced lockdown, work of the project got stalled. He also said that due to non-functioning of some of the School Management Committees, the work was not started in some schools.

[caption id="attachment_99049" align="alignnone" width="1280"] District Mission Coordinator of SSA, B.S. Engti talks to the media on alleged financial anomaly[/caption]

However, Engti admitted to submit a non-accurate report in the floor of the Assembly of the 238th session of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. While trying to defend the difference between the report submitted and the ground reality of actual progress work, Engti said, “While submitting the progress report of the work to the parents department (Education Department) for the purpose of Assembly question, the report was prepared at the last hour and due to shortage of technical personal in SSA (Sarba Siksha Abhiyan), actual progress report could not be prepared as per the actual progress of the work in case of some of the schools, which does not mean that fund has been misutilised.”

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FIR against Corruption:

Aching Zeme, a local of Haflong has filed a case against the alleged financial anomaly in Haflong Police Station. Pointing out four schools in Haflong, the FIR said that despite claiming completion of 40% of work and withdrawal of the entire sum of 4.5 lakhs, no work has been done in actual in these schools.

“Despite stating 40% work done by concerned department and the total sum of RS. 4,50,000 being already withdrawn, it was found out that no work has been initiated till the time of independent spot enquiry by Haflong MAC in the following LP schools in the Dihamlai area.”

The name of the schools are- Lower Herakilo LP School, Nriachibanglo LP School, Kampai Chirstian LP School, Kampai Hindu LP School and New Chaikam LP School.

“It is clearly visible that it’s a matter of corruption and grave concern to the general public. Therefore I humbly request you to kindly initiate proper investigation on the matter and initiate action against all those involving in the construction work…” the FIR reads further.

Talking to InsideNE, Ranjit Saikia, Officer-in-Charge of Haflong Police station said, “Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered under the case number of 70/2021 under section 409 of Indian penal Code (Criminal breach of trust). We are investigating into the matter.”

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