Odisha Vigilance to probe school construction scam in Kandhamal

Reported by Simanchal Pattanaik
Phulbani, Mar 16:

Odisha Vigilance will investigate the school construction scam in Kadam Padar, Bela padar and Sikapada primary schools in tribal dominated Kandhamal district.

The schools, lying about 20 kilometres from the district headquarter Phulbani, are yet to see a permanent structure. The students are seen reading under trees, in village verandas, in unsafe structures and are often seen eating their mid-day meals on the road while dogs and other animals roam around.

As per reports, Rs 4.7 lakhs has allegedly been pocketed from the Kadam Padar School project. The construction remains half complete in Bela padar and Sikapada even after an expenditure of Rs 8 lakh fund in the past four years.

The school buildings have been lying incomplete since the last four years after a teacher named Kedar took over the construction projects. The president of the education committee, teacher Kedar and the DPEP JE have been accused joining hands to perpetrate the scam.

After the teacher took over, there is neither education nor construction in the school now. The government officers are also silent even though they are aware of the scam.

When we tried contacting the DPEP to clarify the matter, he clearly didn’t have an answer and the TC preferred to run away.

If the vigilance investigation goes the right way, it surely will expose the unholy nexus and more importantly pave the way to liberate teachers from doing the duty as contractors.