Adhoc SMDC refutes allegations; appeals for reopening of Ukhrul ZEO
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, September 20 2015: The Adhoc School Management and Development Committee (SMDC), Ukhrul Block has strongly rebutted the allegations of anomalies in SSA functioning and the current closure of Ukhrul Zonal Education Office (ZEO) by Tangkhul Frontal Organizations (TFOs) .

Addressing the media during a press conference held at UDWJA Office Sunday evening, Convenor, Adhoc SMDC Ukhrul Block Chonreihor Kasar and Secretary Churchil Varu said that the Adhoc SMDC is a genuine body which was formed in December 2013 under the State Government directive dated December 10, 2013 .

"The purpose of Adhoc SMDC formation is particularly to undertake construction of buildings for new schools where there are neither teachers nor students as yet," said Kasar while adding that this came in the wake of the government abolishing the erstwhile Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) from the year 2012-13 .

Adhoc SMDC refutes allegations; appeals for reopening of Ukhrul ZEO

Asserting that as per the government directive the Adhoc SMDC is comprised of AI of concerned schools as Chairman and DPM, SSA as Member Secretary with concerned village headmen among the members, he then refuted the allegations that Adhoc SMDC is a counterfeit committee.

"Hence, the charges that AI Wilson Rephung and DPM Ringshan Shaiza had forged an SMDC account holds no ground at all," he said.

Strongly reacting to the allegations of fund embezzlement by Adhoc SMDC, Secretary Varu maintained that such situations did not arise since the Adhoc SMDC had already completed construction of 10 new school buildings out of the sanctioned funds within its block as per the SSA guidelines.

"Construction of all the ten new buildings had been 100 percent completed and subsequently a vigilance inquiry had been conducted in 2014," he said testifying that concerned village headmen are witness to this.

On the allegations that new school buildings had been built in far-off forest areas, Varu clarified that construction of all the buildings is within the radius of 1 km as stipulated by GPS mapping sites.

"Rather than blindly leveling unfounded charges, they should physically survey the works to find out the truth" .

Taking exception to singling out Adhoc SMDC Ukhrul block, he questioned as to why not a single voice was raised against Adhoc SMDCs of Chingai and Phungyar blocks of the district.

At the same time, Adhoc SMDC has appealed to the TFOs to withdraw the sealing of Ukhrul ZEO Office and allow its normal functioning to resume.

"With the issuance of admission forms for JNV and students scholarships process going on, we earnestly appeal for immediate reopening of the ZEO Office," it added.