Dimapur, October 1 (MExN): Allegations of corruption in the SSA implementation in Mokokchung district has reached the Guwahati High Court, with one social worker in Mokokchung challenging the State Education Department and the district education departments involved in the implementation of the SSA scheme on grounds of corruption. The hearing is expected on October 10 at the Guwahati High Court. The forwarding letter by the Registrar General of GHC, regarding the forwarding of the case by the social worker, Chubatangit, a resident of Alempang Ward in Mokokchung town, to the Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court alleged that the DIS in-charge of Changtongya, has demanded 50% of the amount release under the SSA scheme from the villagers of Asangma, Kelingmen, Tuli, Merangkong, Yaongyimsen, Unger and Changtongya.
The SSA is a centrally sponsored scheme, which provides fund for civil works for construction or repairing of the government primary and middle schools all over the country. The statement disclosed that in 2006-07, a total of Rs 3.60 crores for the schools in Mokokchung district has been allotted, out of which a minimum of Rs 1.80 lakhs was to cover 170 schools in the district.
The statement added that when the village authorities questioned the DIS on the demand, he had answered that the demand was made under the direction of the higher authourity. The Chief Justice of GHC was also informed that Kilengmen VC on June 19, 2007, disclosed in the local vernacular daily, Tir Yimyim, that the Council has paid Rs 45,000 to the DIS Changtongya as per his demand as also agreed that the remaining amount would be paid as and when the balance of 25 percent on the SSA scheme was released. On behalf of the Asangma VC, four members stated that the DIS Changtongya returned the amount demanded to the Asangma village authorities which appeared in a local daily on June 30, the Registrar General briefed the Chief Justice of GHC.
The Registrar General also said that ‘in support of the petitioner’s case the Ao Students’ Conference and the Naga Students’ Federation are demanding High level enquiry into the scandal’. However, till date the concerned authourity did not take any initiatives to the reason best known to them, said the Registrar General.
The Registrar General also told the GHC Chief Justice that the petitioner, Chubatangit, has enough evidence to prove the scandal. In this regard, the GHC Registrar General appealed the Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court to hear the petition in the interest of justice. The petitioner Chubatangit, on being contacted, said that they would be leaving for Guwahati to hear the case on October 10.
