Phulbani: Irregularities have come to the fore in the implementation of Anwesha scheme, which is aimed at mainstreaming tribal children into private English medium schools in Kandhamal district. But thanks to the greediness of some officials, the private schools where the tribal children are enrolled are not providing even basic facilities to them.
The state government launched the Anwesha Yojana in 2015-16 to provide education to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students in English medium schools free of cost. The scheme is touted as a step towards fulfilment of hopes and aspirations of SC and ST parents to get their children educated in public schools in urban areas and for providing quality education to SC and ST students in partnership with Urban Education Institutions (both private aided and Central Government managed schools).
As per the guidelines, Anwesha Yojana should be implemented in urban English medium schools that have Certificate of Registration (COR) and proper infrastructural facilities. The state government has clearly stated that schools without COR certificate are not to be included in the scheme.
However, the District Welfare Officer of Kandhamal district is alleged to have violated the guidelines of the Yojana as the students are studying in those schools which have no COR certificate.
Under this scheme, the students are given free hostel facilities with a counsellor to help the students in self-studies in hostel. The government gives Rs. 25,000 as school fee and Rs 20,000 as hostel fee per annum for each student.
Former welfare officer of the district had not followed the government guidelines and enrolled the names of selected students in those schools which have no COR certificate and infrastructural facilities.
Locals suspect irregularities to the tune of crores of rupees in this scheme.
The irregularities found in a couple of private English medium schools where the tribal children are enrolled under the scheme, are running without the COR certificate and the teachers appointed have not passed the Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET & OTET). Nor do they have teacher training certificate. These schools are running in rented houses without toilets. The students are also facing various problems due to lack of sitting arrangements.
There are 900 students enrolled under Anwesha scheme in the district. The government is spending Rs 45,000 per student per annum. So both the school authorities and the District Welfare Officer are trying to embezzle the government funds (900X 45000=Rs 40,500,000) by enrolling the students without following the government guidelines.
The School and Mass Education Department of Odisha had instructed all the district educational officers (DEOs) in 2018 to ban the schools which do not have COR certificate. But it had no effect on the authorities concerned.
When the District Educational Officer Vikash Pradhan was asked about this, he said: “We informed the entire block educational officer about this. They will send us the report after the inspection.”
District Welfare Officer Chharulata Mallik in her reaction said, “I am not responsible for all such allegations as these are not happened during my job period. Government has not sent us any letter. The department is not involved in any irregularities.
PNN
