Mail News Service
Imphal, July 12: The CAG report on SSA said the Government of India had formulated the National Education Policy in the year 1986 and Right to Education Act in 2009 which inter alia mandated Universal Elementary Education (UEE) of good quality for children in the age group of 6-14 years through provision of schools within one kilometre distance of each habitation with appropriate infrastructure. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was implemented in Manipur in March 2004 to ensure that all children in the age group 6 to 14 years have access to education. This was boosted with Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme implemented in February 2009 in all primary and upper primary schools (Government and Aided schools). MDM also served to improve nutritional status of the children. The performance audit of the programme/schemes brought out the following significant audit findings:
SSA was being implemented without proper planning and without carrying out household survey and pre-project activities.
There were short release of fund (Rs 139.63 crore), delay in release of fund and diversion of fund in implementation of SSA.
Teachers were posted in school with zero enrolment and there were schools with no posting of teachers.Despite a trend of low attendance, foodgrains consumption for WO per cent attendance was reported under MDM.
Civil works taken up both under SSA and MDM suffered from many deficiencies/irregularities due to which there were infrastructure gaps.Contract management was weak both under SSA and MDM and there were loopholes in the contract clauses too.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ssa-funds-misused-cag/
