Lack of accountability and disregard of instructions from higher authority can make a failure of a system. That is precisely what is obtaining in the case of implementation of centrally sponsored Sarv Shikhsha Abhiyaan (SSA) scheme in the State. Sanctioned in 2002, the State Education Department was supposed to open 10,000 Primary and Middle Class schools in the State. Thousands of crore of rupees were sanctioned and released for the scheme. Now that nearly eleven years have passed ever since the scheme was sponsored, there are complaints that many of the schools exist only on paper and on ground nothing exists. The money shown as spent on the new institutions has been siphoned off to concerned authorities in Education Department and the contractors. On receiving complaints from various quarters, Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Education Department, issued a circular to the Deputy Commissioners of all district to conduct physical verification of the new schools opened under SSA scheme and report the matter to him within a stipulated time. Only one Deputy Commissioner (Samba) has sent in the report. Others have not responded despite a reminder from the Deputy Chief Minister. One fails to understand why the DCs are not willing to get physical verification of the schools conducted and reported. After all crores of rupees are involved and there seems no accountability. This is clearly a case of bad governance and the blame has to come to many persons managing the show. Verification is not inquiry. Only after a verification report comes in, the Deputy Chief Minister will be in a position to decide whether or not a formal inquiry into the case of corruption and siphoning off of the money is to be framed against the concerned authorities. The complaints of non-existence of school buildings gain strength when the Deputy Commissioners fail to order physical verification. Cases like these can be cited by the Central government as instances of the State Government unable to provide efficient governance.
The Deputy CM should hold detailed inquiry into the matter and identify all officials responsible for this fiasco.
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