Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 29: Unbelievable it may sound but it is a fact that fate of 55 buildings under Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Scheme of Union Human Resource Development Ministry has been hanging in balance in Jammu and Kashmir despite expenditure worth several crores of rupees due to one haphazard decision of the School Education Department. Moreover, work on 13 more buildings under this scheme could not be taken up despite repeated commitments made before the Union Ministry.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that around six months back the School Education Department took a decision banning further construction on the upcoming 55 KGBV buildings across the State till further orders unmindful of its ramifications. The reason behind this haphazard decision was the registration of FIR by the State Vigilance Organization into KGBV building scam in Nyoma Sub-Division of Leh district.
On the construction of KGBV building at Nyoma an expenditure of nearly Rs 30 lakh was incurred but the same remained unfruitful for four years because concerned Zonal Education Officer refused to take over the building for not being complete in all respects.
As the building could not be utilized for the intended purpose and after four years it was found unsafe, the Deputy Commissioner Leh approached the Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Chief Secretary for necessary action against erring officers. After preliminary investigation, State Vigilance Organization registered FIR.
Following this, Administrative Secretary, School Education Department issued an order imposing ban on further construction on the upcoming KGBV buildings across the State. “Due to this decision, expenditure worth several crores of rupees incurred on 55 upcoming buildings has remained unfruitful till date”, sources said while disclosing that majority of these buildings could have been made completed during this period as these were on the completions stage when the ban was imposed.
Disclosing that funds for the construction of KGBV buildings are sanctioned by the Union HRD Ministry under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Scheme on some sharing basis, sources said, “whether the concerned authorities would be able to complete these buildings by utilizing the balance amount remains a million dollar question in view of the cost escalation of the material ever since the imposition of the ban”, adding “moreover, the Union Ministry would not provide any more assistance to meet the escalated cost”.
“Another adverse impact of the haphazard decision is that authorities concerned will have to continue with the payment of huge money for running these 55 KGBVs in the rented accommodations”, they said, adding “due to the ban even work on 31 buildings could not be taken up despite commitment before the Union Ministry by the School Education Department of the State”.
They disclosed that at the time of approval of Annual Work Plan for 2013-14 financial year, the State Government had promised to complete 55 KGBV buildings by December 31, 2013 while as work on unstarted 31 KGBV buildings would be taken up by May 2013.
When contacted, Project Director SSA J&K, S A Leharwal confirmed that fate of 55 KGBV buildings was hanging in balance due to ban imposed by the Administrative Department. “Keeping those buildings where only minor works are pending idle is not advisable in view of the rent being paid for the rented accommodation”, he said, adding “keeping this in view I have written to the Administrative Department for lifting of ban atleast in case of such buildings”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Secretary is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of SSA and Minister Incharge School Education is the head of Governing Council.
About undertaking sample study of learning outcome levels, which was also a commitment of J&K before the Union Ministry, sources said, “no substantial progress could be made in this regard also although during the Annual Work Plan approval for the current financial year, the State had assured to get the same conducted expeditiously”.
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