Education Minister clarifies on SSA fund misuse slur
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 29 2014:
Reacting to the allegations of All Manipur School Management and Development Committee, Education Minister M Okendro has clarified that the Ministry of Human Resources Development released a sum of Rs.100 crores for taking up different construction works in 2012-13.Out of which a sum of Rs.24 crores approximately was released to Engineering Wing of Education Department for construction of 10 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and nine residential schools as it was permissible under SSA norms.
He further said that a sum of 14 crores approximately was released to SMDCs concerned as second installment for construction of additional classrooms.
Other construction works could not be taken up due to court case.
However, on taking up of pending works as per the order of the High Court, MHRD did not cease financial assistance for the current year 2013-14 and funds are released accordingly for other purposes.
Okendro also clarified that there is no committee for construction comprising local MLAs.
Constructions are executed through SMDCS only as per norms of SSA.
The State Government has been regularly releasing the State's matching share and there is no shortfall in the release of State's matching share.
For the year 2013-14, SSA, SMA received Rs.6.33 crores as State's matching share for the current year.
There is no utilization of SSA funds in other works not related to the scheme, the Minister added.