Schoolbag maker turns out to be a fake
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 28 2011: The Sujata Sarkar Company which was awarded the tender to make schoolbags of the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan by the SSA authority has turned out to be a fake company.

The matter came to light when the schoolbags, which were supposed to be made in West Bengal, were found to be made in a local factory.

MSF volunteers found this out in a raid today.

Briefing reporters in a press meet held at the office premises of the federation, general secretary MSF Anash Khan said that the disclosure of the fake company hinted of possible corrupt activities in the SSA State Mission Authority.

The fake company was given the tender to supply the schoolbags under Urban Deprived, Girls' Education and Inclusive Education Intervention programmes leaving behind two local companies, M/s Monalisa, Paona Bazar and Ken Bags Industries Thangmeiband.

' 45,76,000 was sanctioned in the name of Sujata Sarkar in December 2010.Later on January 29, this year two sanction orders of ' 30,99,504 and ' 29,71,280 were issued in the name of the fake company.

Ken Bags Industries and Romi Bags Industries were found making the schoolbags for the fake company.

After finding out the truth, MSF volunteers collected samples of the schoolbags from the two industries.

Moreover Manipur Paper Emporium which is not a registered government supplier was also given the supply order of stationery items for the project.

An amount of ' 22,67,769 was already sanctioned in the name of the stationery shop on March 29, 2010.When enquired by MSF volunteers, the owner of the Manipur Paper Emporium admitted his shop is not a registered government supplier.

Another amount of ' 22,43,192 was also sanctioned in the name of Pooja Stationery Store, Paona Bazar on December 29, 2010 which is also a non registered supplier.

A supply order of shoes amounting ' 21,30,860 had been sanctioned in the name of Pooja Shoes situated at Paona Bazar, Imphal which is an unregistered store.

Surprisingly, the owner of the store firmly denied of any knowledge about the supply order and the sanction amount in the name of his store.

Apart from such corrupt activities inside the SSA state authority, re-engagement of staff under the SSA scheme is done in an unnatural way.

A primary teacher called Basanta is still working as an account officer in the office of SSA even though it had appointed somebody else for the post.

Referring to the Project Director of SSA State authority, MSF said that there are many high profile corruption cases inside the authority.

The SSA is laundering government money in a big way to serve their self interests which affects the whole student community in the state under the purview of the scheme.

In order to enforce a proper working order inside the SSA state authority, MSF will take up appropriate action against corrupt officials inside the authority, Anash Khan added.

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