SSA books being sold illegally
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 06 2011:
Textbooks to be supplied free of cost to students of poor families under the Central sponsored SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) are found being sold in some book stores in Imphal.
This was discovered in a drive conducted by volunteers of the MSF.
The textbooks inscribed "Not for sale" were found being sold at Oriental Book Depot, Students Emporium, Sangam Book Store, Suchitra Book Depot, Fame Book Store and Mangal Book Store, all at Paona Bazar.
Selling of these books was also detected at some book stores at Singjamei bazar's Universal Book Store, Sindam Book Store, Ching-tam Book Store, Triveni Book Store and Manipur Book Store.
General Secretary Anash Shah said the books were meant for studies from Class-I to Class-X .
These books were published by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur but are owned by the State Mission Authority of the SSA.
They are banned from sale and are meant to be supplied to students who are availing benefits from the SSA scheme.
Some of the textbooks were sold without removing the hologram of the SSA.
Anash enquired whether the BSEM authority is selling the books on the sly or have been printed without the mandatory permission from the competent authorities.
The students' body is demanding BSEM authority to clarify whether they are involved in the selling or publication of the books.
The matter has come to light while students are facing non-availability of textbooks even as the session has already started, The MSF has taken the matter seriously, the general secretary added.