After detecting gross irregularities in distribution of scholarship to the students as well as in Mid-day Meal Scheme in Bijnore, yet another matter came before the Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman, about how a private school is minting money from students in the name of forwarding their names to get benefit of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ambitious scheme of facilitating monetary help to girls under ‘Kanya Vidyadhan’. The college authorities are collecting a cut of Rs 10,000 out of Rs 30,000 what they get under the scheme. At present, Rs 35,000 has been given to girl students.
Interestingly, even after the matter came to the knowledge of senior officials of the Education Department, they took least interest to cancel the recognition of the school, when a recommendation in this regard has been already forwarded by the district authority. Usman now directed the secretary of the Higher Secondary Board, Allahabad, to conduct an enquiry within month and submit a report of action taken against the officers in this regard. Usman also directed joint director (education) of Moradabad division to cancel the recognition of the school where money has been demanded to forward names of Kanya Vidyadhan beneficiary.
Giving details of the above order passed by him on Thursday, Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman said that it was brought to his notice that the principal of New Heaven Inter College, Noorpur in Bijnore had collected Rs 10,000 from each student in the name of forwarding their names to get cash benefit under the above monetary help scheme of chief minister. Usman claimed that one of the student of New Heaven Inter College, informed the police officials after which a trap was laid and as the initial amount of Rs 5000, out of the total Rs 10,000 demanded, has been handed over to the principal and manager of the college, the cops pounced and arrested them red handed. He said that a case was registered against them and a report was sent to the district inspector of school for further necessary action in the matter.
Usman further claimed that it was also brought to his notice that in March 2013, DIOS in Bijnore had forwarded his recommendation to cancel the recognition of the said college but the office of zonal secretary of Higher Secondary Education in Bareilly zone, had dumped the file and had taken no action against anyone and not even cancelled the recognition of the school. Information Commissioner claimed that finding the matter of very serious nature as it is not just related to future of girl child but corruption has been also done in chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s key scheme, so he ordered a high level probe so appropriate action could be initiated against the officials of the education department, besides the recognition of the private institutions involved in the above irregularities could be cancelled.
It may be mentioned that last Month, Usman ordered a high level probe by divisional commissioner of Moradabad, after he detected large scale irregularities in distribution of scholarship to the students as well as in Mid-day Meal Scheme also in Bijnore. Usman formed that some colleges in Naziabad area of Bijnore were swindling huge funds sent for distribution of scholarships to the students or for their Mid-Day meal etc by Department of Social Welfare. like in Primary School at Kulhedi locality of Nazibabad in Bijnore, it was revealed that the colleges had strength of just about 100 students but to swindle the government fund, they showed 300 to 400 students in their college and collect scholarship and other funds thus a scam running into several lakh rupees has been came to the fore.