Dimapur, April 21 (MExN): Backed by details and figures alleging murky dealings and corruption, the Congress party in Nagaland has demanded removal of the Minister for School Education Nyeiwang Konyak and investigations launched. According to an elaborate statement addressed to the Governor of Nagaland, the minister is under the cloud for “missing” funds amounting to crores as well as murky dealings relating to the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
The missing fund were allegedly claimed as having been used “to attend many functions as chief guest,” according to the statement. The NPCC’s letter was appended by al the top officials of the committee led by President SI Jamir.
According to the statement addressed to the governor by the Nagaland Pradesh congress Committee (NPCC) funds amounting to at least Rs. 1, 34, 13, 000 meant for infrastructure development are “missing.” During the financial year 2009-2010, the NPCC said, the state government sanctioned Rs. 5, 35, 13, 000 on March 31 under plan and non-plan as grants to government-recognized private schools. Out of the amount, Rs. 10, 00, 000 each was released to 33 private (recognized) schools for infrastructural support. This totaled to 3, 30, 00, 000, the NPCC stated. Rs. 20, 00,000 was then released to DSE for interviews for graduate and primary teachers. Rs. 51, 00, 000 was received by the Minister for School Education as shown in the expenditure break-up signed by himself and supported by Actual Payment Receipt, also signed by him. “Therefore, the total amount released was Rs. 4, 01, 00, 000 only while Rs. 1, 34, 13, 000 only, remains missing,” the NPCC stated.
When questioned in the state assembly, the Congress said, the minister could not give a satisfactory answer. “On being pressed he had disclosed that the said amount was used to attend many functions as chief guest, a non-valid reason that clearly pointed at embezzlement. The minister also failed to furnish the list of expenditure despite having promised on the floor of the house,” the NPCC stated.
Further, during 2009-2010, Rs. 54.98 Lakhs was released as grant-in-aid to special institutions out of which the minister allegedly took Rs 11, 18, 000 and another Rs. 4, 93, 000. The rest of the amount was paid to other beneficiaries including private individuals, stated the NPCC statement.
In addition, Under the RMSA Rs. 11, 97, 40, 000 was released to the Nagaland Education Mission Society during 2009-2010. The NPCC cited annexure that pointed to gross irregularities in a number of cases. Firstly, North East Consultancy Services of Aizwal Mizoram (NECS) was directly appointed without floating any tender and at 1.5% of the total amount of funds approved for the stated financial year and 1.5% for the succeeding years. Further, 8% of the total cost was agreed by the government to pay the NECS of Aizwal for civil works. Even before the expiry of the first contract period, the contract was extended to 2016-2017 on June 23, 2010, that too without floating any tender again. This case needs to be investigated, the NPCC stated.
Likewise, the Congress said in its annexure Rs. 2, 56, 07, 895 was paid to NECS as “consultancy fee” and Rs. 324.41 Lakhs was paid to the same firm as “consultation fee” for “civil works.” So a total of Rs. 5, 80, 58, 895 was paid to NECS without executing any substantial work, the NPCC stated in the annexure.
Likewise, more anomalies were pointed out in some RMSA activities. The NPCC’s statement said during 2009-2010 I lakh copies of a calendar was printed from one Bhabani Offset & Imaging System Pvt Ltd in Guwahati. A colossal Rs. 14 lakh was spent at Rs. 14 per copy. Using other printing services and not government printing services had incurred the significant expenditure causing unnecessary loss of fund, the Congress said. Further, even the name of the printer was not mentioned in the calendar, as is mandatory. This point to shady dealings, the NPCC said.
Based on these evidences, the opposition has demanded that the chief minister sack the Education. The Congress had demanded his removal in the assembly but in response, the chief minister had only defended the minister in question. “Hence the NPCC demands your benign authority to sack him and institute a thorough probe,” the NPCC said, assuring it would fight until the demand is fulfilled.
The missing fund were allegedly claimed as having been used “to attend many functions as chief guest,” according to the statement. The NPCC’s letter was appended by al the top officials of the committee led by President SI Jamir.
According to the statement addressed to the governor by the Nagaland Pradesh congress Committee (NPCC) funds amounting to at least Rs. 1, 34, 13, 000 meant for infrastructure development are “missing.” During the financial year 2009-2010, the NPCC said, the state government sanctioned Rs. 5, 35, 13, 000 on March 31 under plan and non-plan as grants to government-recognized private schools. Out of the amount, Rs. 10, 00, 000 each was released to 33 private (recognized) schools for infrastructural support. This totaled to 3, 30, 00, 000, the NPCC stated. Rs. 20, 00,000 was then released to DSE for interviews for graduate and primary teachers. Rs. 51, 00, 000 was received by the Minister for School Education as shown in the expenditure break-up signed by himself and supported by Actual Payment Receipt, also signed by him. “Therefore, the total amount released was Rs. 4, 01, 00, 000 only while Rs. 1, 34, 13, 000 only, remains missing,” the NPCC stated.
When questioned in the state assembly, the Congress said, the minister could not give a satisfactory answer. “On being pressed he had disclosed that the said amount was used to attend many functions as chief guest, a non-valid reason that clearly pointed at embezzlement. The minister also failed to furnish the list of expenditure despite having promised on the floor of the house,” the NPCC stated.
Further, during 2009-2010, Rs. 54.98 Lakhs was released as grant-in-aid to special institutions out of which the minister allegedly took Rs 11, 18, 000 and another Rs. 4, 93, 000. The rest of the amount was paid to other beneficiaries including private individuals, stated the NPCC statement.
In addition, Under the RMSA Rs. 11, 97, 40, 000 was released to the Nagaland Education Mission Society during 2009-2010. The NPCC cited annexure that pointed to gross irregularities in a number of cases. Firstly, North East Consultancy Services of Aizwal Mizoram (NECS) was directly appointed without floating any tender and at 1.5% of the total amount of funds approved for the stated financial year and 1.5% for the succeeding years. Further, 8% of the total cost was agreed by the government to pay the NECS of Aizwal for civil works. Even before the expiry of the first contract period, the contract was extended to 2016-2017 on June 23, 2010, that too without floating any tender again. This case needs to be investigated, the NPCC stated.
Likewise, the Congress said in its annexure Rs. 2, 56, 07, 895 was paid to NECS as “consultancy fee” and Rs. 324.41 Lakhs was paid to the same firm as “consultation fee” for “civil works.” So a total of Rs. 5, 80, 58, 895 was paid to NECS without executing any substantial work, the NPCC stated in the annexure.
Likewise, more anomalies were pointed out in some RMSA activities. The NPCC’s statement said during 2009-2010 I lakh copies of a calendar was printed from one Bhabani Offset & Imaging System Pvt Ltd in Guwahati. A colossal Rs. 14 lakh was spent at Rs. 14 per copy. Using other printing services and not government printing services had incurred the significant expenditure causing unnecessary loss of fund, the Congress said. Further, even the name of the printer was not mentioned in the calendar, as is mandatory. This point to shady dealings, the NPCC said.
Based on these evidences, the opposition has demanded that the chief minister sack the Education. The Congress had demanded his removal in the assembly but in response, the chief minister had only defended the minister in question. “Hence the NPCC demands your benign authority to sack him and institute a thorough probe,” the NPCC said, assuring it would fight until the demand is fulfilled.
