Probe team detects financial irregularities in SSA in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: An inquiry committee constituted by the State Project Director, Bihar Education Project, Sanjay Singh, has found prima facie largescale financial irregularities in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Bhojpur district. Taking serious note of the irregularities, the State Project Director cancelled the list of schools approved by the District Executive Committee and the revised lists was made available to all the banks by the District Programme Officer,  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). He had also ordered all the schools to return the amount allotted to them and deposit them into bank account of the SSA by July 28, 2016, but most of the schools in Bhojpur district did not return the amount till date. 

Bihar Education Project, Bhojpur, had allotted about Rs. 7.2 crore on March 28, 2016 and about Rs. 2.97 crore on March 28, 2016, to schools after getting it approved by the District Executive Committee for construction of additional classrooms in schools. The education committees of different schools withdrew and allegedly is embezzled the amount meant for construction of classrooms, which have not been built so far. After a letter from the State Project Director, education department allegedly trying to adjust the amount with the fund meant for scholarship. 

District Education Officer, Suresh Prasad, said he was aware of a PIL filed in Patna high court about alleged embezzlement and said that amount allotted to schools was being realized. Nagrik Adhikar Manch filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) CWJC 049735 in Patna High Court on July 18, 2016, in connection with embezzlement of about Rs. 10 crore in the education department in Bhojpur district.