Okendro assures
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 02 2015:
Education Minister M Okendro has categorically stated that the fund which was sanctioned by UGC for development of Lilong Haoreibi College infrastructure but was misappropriated would be recovered wholly, not a penny lesser.
Replying to a call attention motion raised by Th Shyamkumar about misappropriation of a huge amount of fund sanctioned by UGC by a former Principal-in-charge, Okendro stated that the particular Principal-in-charge has been suspended apart from registering a case with the State Vigilance Commission.
It was reported that Rs 83,32,085 sanctioned for infrastructure development of the college was misappropriated.
The department has submitted an enquiry report to the high power committee headed by the Chief Secretary as chairman.
Necessary action would be initiated against the former Principal-in-charge under the Manipur Public Servants Personal Liability Act based on the committee's recommendations.
Earlier, lobbying for college development funds were done by respective colleges and there was no room for intervention by the Government.
Funds sanctioned by UGC were utilized/spent by respective colleges in the way they chose.
But these days, a State level UGC screening committee has been constituted.
After the establishment of the committee, the Education Minister, Commissioner, Director and even MLAs concerned have been authorised to monitor utilization of UGC funds.
Strangely, very few are now seeking UGC funds after the committee was set up in 2013, Okendro stated.
Th Shyamkumar opined that similar cases of fund misappropriation may be there in other colleges too.