Education guidelines flouted, allege Panchayat leaders

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 1: Large scale violations of stipulated guidelines by the West Siang district’s administration and education department have been alleged by a section of panchayat leaders and activists from the district.

Registering a complaint with the chief secretary, 16 individuals including anchal members, youth association members and activists have alleged that the deputy director of school education has” misused his power and position in executing various centrally sponsored schemes. In their letter to the chief secretary, they alleged that the DDSE Tomi Doke made large-scale payments to contractors in cash instead of issuing cheques or demand drafts. The letter read that the “DDSE has violated official guidelines by making departmental payment in cash to contractors/suppliers”. Seeking Doke’s removal/withdrawal of his DDO power immediately and setting up of a departmental enquiry, the complaints said such practices are “dismantling the healthy future of the state”.

They have also alleged that a firm blacklisted for its involvement in the 100-crore PDS scam was awarded contract to supply Mid-Day Meals in the district.

The letter alleged that TR Enterprises was issued an “experience certificate by district food and civil supplies officer or deputy commissioner”. The 16 individuals also claimed that the firm was selected during the recent Liromoba assembly by-poll election in February when the election model code of conduct was in place. They said that the timing of the awarding of the contract “compels us to think that the selection was not done on merit”.

They questioned “how the DC or district food and civil supplies officer issue experience certificate to a blacklisted firm with a terrible record”.

Both the DDSE and DC could not be reached on their official phones to react to the allegations.