Morung Express News
November 14
Dimapur: Reiterating that he was not involved in any manner of corruption in the text book scam, Dr Shürhozelie today said in a release that he finds it necessary to make a few clarifications on the subject as distribution of the books was done during his time as Minister of School Education. He said on the whole, the Government had made more than 98% distribution of free text books to Government schools as compared to 15%-25% distribution made in the past while pointing out that the introduction of new text books after 25 years was in itself a big achievement. He informed that the new textbooks with fixed prices were to be used in Nagaland schools for five years.
The minister further questioned, “If tender is to be floated again, does it mean that the Department is going to introduce another set of new text books for 2006? Or in what way or for what purpose tender is to be floated?” Shurhozelie called for the dissolution of the previous committees if new committees were to be instituted. Shürhozelie has also asked if it is necessary to constitute a purchase board with regard to the text books. On the allegation that his son was involved in the scam, he said, “We have issued order to a firm-BILTEK-to supervise the distribution part. BILTEK is a firm and not my son.” He stated that implicating him and his son was a desperate move of his ‘adversaries’ without basis.
He pointed out that “Not for sale/free text books” could not be printed on the books because the text books are not only for Government schools but for private schools as well. “Since free text books are only for Government schools publishers may be asked to stamp free text books label separately with a special seal”. He also revealed that the problems of the Tuensang and Kohima DIS were resolved by making adjustment with excess supply of books to some other DIS.
