ONK exposes more skeletons in Edn Dept, two pulled up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13: Exposing more muck in the Education (S) Department, a special task of Operation New Kangleipak of the proscribed KYKL has pulled up two officials on a number of charges.

The two Edn (S) officials hauled up by the KYKL

The two officers have been identified as Takhelchangbam Geetchandra Sharma (40) of Kwakeithel Heinou Khongnembi, presently posted as Senior Research Officer in-charge at the Directorate of Education (S) and Takhelmayum Samananda Singh (45) of Khurai Sajor Leikai and present posted as OSD, Vigilance, Directorate of Education (S).

In a statement, the outfit said that the two were hauled up and after questioning it has come to light that they were responsible for many misdemeanours and taking bribes of Rs 15 and 20 lakhs respectively.

The charges levelled against the two include not discharging their duties in identifying fake appointments and covering up fake appointees at a price, instigating the Vigilance in case of some genuine teachers and taking money from them in cahoots with some Vigilance officials and in case if the money is not coughed up not moving their relevant files, disposing the files of adhoc teachers when the KYKL started investigating the case and appointing fake teachers, taking bribes from fake appointees and letting the high authority to extend their services as well as appointing adhoc employees on the sly, taking bribes from 69 teachers who have just been recruited in the selection test for Graduate teachers in cahoots with the Director and Minister concerned to effect their transfer, even though it is not even six months since the teachers joined service and attempt to fill up vacant post with adhoc appointments.

The other charges include taking bribes to the tune of Rs 20,000 to approve the service of teachers of aided Jr High School and turning their office into a boozing den, charged KYKL.

The two officials have been asked to resign from their respective posting at the Directorate of Education, but may continue in their earlier posting which is Geetchandra as a Psychologist of the SCERT and Headmaster of Tousem Jr High School for Samananda.

Since Samananda is physically handicapped he has been spared the punishment of being shot on the leg, said the statement.

However the money which he had fraudulently taken should be returned to the outfit.

Taking off from the misdemeanour of the two officers, the KYKL said that the education system in the State has hit rock bottom.

The Directorate of Education (S) is like without a head with no rules and regulations, it said and added that it is plagued by corruption.

It is because of this that it is still unable to identify and name the exact number of teachers working under it.

Instead of trying to establish the status of the teachers, the officials concerned are more interested in making easy money at the cost of the student community.

As a result all the files of the Department are in complete disarray with no order.

Citing an example, the statement said that instead of appointing only one person under the die-harness-scheme, at least three persons have been found appointed.

In Thoubal district alone 323 teachers were found appointed under the die-in-harness scheme, it charged.

Till July of 2005, it was found that 11680 teachers were appointed on adhoc basis and till this period the number of teachers was put at 12,932.The trend of appointing 300/400 teachers each year on the sly means that in 10 years time, the ratio of teachers and students will be the same, it observed.

Despite the rationalisation policy, the transfer and posting of teachers is a complete failure and this is precisely the reason, why there are so many complaints of shortage of teachers.

During investigation carried during the last three/four years, it has come to light that the number of teachers is about 12932, said KYKL and added that out of this it has been established that 493 are fake appointees (names on page 3).Stating that the named teachers are all fake appointees, KYKL decreed that they should not be given their salaries.

Citing an example, the statement said that one Naorem Angoucha of Kakching Khullen Makha Leikai and his wife Yengkhom ningol Pyari Devi were found listed as teachers posted at Aimol Chinungkhut Junior High School and Lamlong Khullen Jr High School.

(The appointment order was shown as being issued on 21/7/03 under the signature of the then Education Director Shamungou).

However when the outfit went to their residences to find out if they are really teachers, they were told that none from their family is a teacher, said the statement.

The name of Angoucha in included in the Manipur Government Employees List under NIC NO 65328. Not only this there are many teachers who have been drawing their salaries without ever attending any classes.

Even if their appointments are genuine, there is no reason why action should not be taken up against such recalcitrant teachers, it added.

The teachers who have been declared as fake appointees should not be made to withdraw their salaries.

In case they want to contest the accusations then they may submit their documents to the outfit for further investigation.

However these teachers should not approach the Law court and they will not be allowed to work as teachers.

The need of the hour is to appoint committed officials as Director/Commissioner etc of the School Education Department, observed the outfit and decreed that the post left vacant through retirement should be filled up through a regular DPC and no fake appointments will be allowed to fill up the vacancies.

The Govt should make public the number of vacancies each year and the number of adhoc as well as regular teachers should be worked out.

Other details like seniority list, names, addresses, date of joining service, posting should be updated and a Website opened to let the public know of the true picture of the Dept.

Files will not do as it will only lead to more manipulation, it added.

All teachers should also be given their code number and Headmasters, Principles and Clerks should not release the salaries of teachers without verifying whether they have joined their posting place.

No officials in the Education Dept have dispensed with their duty sincerely, it said and added that ZEOs, Inspectors and DIs hardly move to inspect the condition of the schools under their jurisdiction.

The time is ripe to revolutionise the education system.