Even though Odisha’s literacy rate is lower than the national average, the State Government seems uninterested to eradicate the ‘illiteracy malice’ from the remote areas of Maoist-hit districts.
It is evident from the fact that the Union Government has stalled the first installment of the State Resource Centre, Bhubaneswar’s office expenditure for the current year alleging that the latter has defied guidelines in appointment of a regular Director for the State Resource Centre (SRC), Bhubaneswar.
The State Resource Centre, which works to enhance the literary rate by providing teachings to illiterate people of 15 years and above age with funding from the Centre, is running without a regular Director for the last two years due to the negligence of the School and Mass Education Department higher ups, said sources.
A special governing body meeting of SRC held on January 1, 2014 had approved three names, Kailash Chandra Sathua, Dr Chandan Kumar Singh and Dr Bipin Bihari Prusty, to be called seriously for joining as the regular Director of the SRC.First candidate Sathua was found ineligible as his maximum qualification is MBA, which is not equivalent to Post-graduate degree, an essential requisite for the post. Desirable qualification for the post is BBA or MBA.
Though nearly three and half a month has have been passed since Sathua was found ineligible, the SRC Chairperson has not given appointment to the second person in the list Dr Chandan Kumar Singh and instead has given School and Mass Education Department Joint Secretary Jagannath Mohanty additional charge of the Director.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has strongly objected to the move. “Dr Chandan Kumar Singh should have been immediately appointed as Director on Regular basis. …Jagannath Mohanty, Joint Secretary, School and Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha has given additional Director, SRC. This is in complete violation of the guidelines and proceedings of the Special GB meeting,” a missive issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to the SRC Chairperson on June 2 said.
The letter has asked the Chairperson to rescind the Mohanty’s appointment and appoint Dr Chandan Kumar Singh as the regular Director of the SRC. “Pending appoint of Dr. Singh and for the present, the 1st installment of grant for the current year is not being considered for release,” the missive mentioned.Sources said the Sakshara Bharat programme is currently being implemented in 19 Maoist-hit districts, where woman literacy is less than 15 per cent. The Centre has sanctioned a total of Rs 12 crore under the programme.
As per the 2011 Census, the State’s literacy rate was 73.45 per cent against national rate of 74,04 per cent. The SRC, with a team of 17 officials, plays a vital role in enhancing the literacy rate in Odisha, said an educationist.