BILAL HUSSAIN
Ridiculing various implementation agencies in the educational sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report lamented that rupees worth tens of crores were retained and not released for respective activities resulting in un-synchronization of the programmes on ground.
The CAG report mentions that to achieve the intended objectives of ‘the education for all’, the government of India (GOI) /state government released funds (centre/state share) in favour of the State Implementing Society (SIS) for further release to the District implementing society for implementation of the programme for onward transmission to the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs). “Funds for Teaching Learning Equipment (TLE), Teacher Learning Material (TLM) and school Maintenance Grants (SMG) are credited by the ZEOs to the joint Bank accounts of School Education Committees and Village education Committees,” the resport said.
The report while providing details said that the State Implementing Society (SIS) had retained huge balances ranging between Rs 11 crore and Rs 379 crore during 2006 to 2011 indicating that funds had not been released to the CEOs in full. “It was also seen that release of funds by the CEOs (Chief Education Officer) to the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) was not in synchronization with the pace of implementation of the programme at the ground level, thus, resulting in parking of huge funds in Saving Bank accounts at all levels (CEOs/ZEOs/Schools). As a result, the balances with the six test-checked CEOs also increased from Rs 29 crore ending March 2006 to Rs 85.16 crore at the close of March 2011,” it said.
It was also seen in 34 test-checked zones that funds had been released routinely by the CEOs without having regard to the actual requirements which had contributed to accumulation of unspent bank balances of Rs 58.85 crore with the ZEOs. “On being pointed out, it was intimated that the funds were released without having been requisitioned. Reasons for release of funds without being requisitioned were not intimated,” the report mentions.
The CAG audit observed poor utilization of funds under the programmes resulting in huge unspent balances at the close of the financial years at all the levels. “The department had failed to provide basic amenities and facilities to students,” it said.
Despite all efforts of the GOI and the state government, providing ‘Education to all’ still remains a distant dream. “Non-preparation of long and short-term plans based on ground realities, non-monitoring of schemes at all the levels and inadequate internal control mechanism had hampered implementation of the programmes at the school/zonal levels,” the report added.
According to the report mid-term appraisal of ongoing programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-day Meal (MDM) had not been conducted for possible corrections, if needed. Cases of financial irregularities viz. advances paid and awaited adjustment accounts, diversion of funds, abandoned school buildings resulting in unproductive expenditure were noticed in a large number of cases which had dented programme implementation. Huge unspent balances were noticed at every level.
“Action plans should be linked to grass root indicators and performance and prepared by dovetailing funds from different sources to adopt a holistic approach to derive maximum benefit out of investments. Effective monitoring at all levels, revival of systematic and strong internal control system, conducting of inspections by top and middle level functionaries should be established to give a boost to the ongoing programme,” the report recommended.
Ridiculing various implementation agencies in the educational sector in Jammu and Kashmir, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report lamented that rupees worth tens of crores were retained and not released for respective activities resulting in un-synchronization of the programmes on ground.
The CAG report mentions that to achieve the intended objectives of ‘the education for all’, the government of India (GOI) /state government released funds (centre/state share) in favour of the State Implementing Society (SIS) for further release to the District implementing society for implementation of the programme for onward transmission to the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs). “Funds for Teaching Learning Equipment (TLE), Teacher Learning Material (TLM) and school Maintenance Grants (SMG) are credited by the ZEOs to the joint Bank accounts of School Education Committees and Village education Committees,” the resport said.
The report while providing details said that the State Implementing Society (SIS) had retained huge balances ranging between Rs 11 crore and Rs 379 crore during 2006 to 2011 indicating that funds had not been released to the CEOs in full. “It was also seen that release of funds by the CEOs (Chief Education Officer) to the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) was not in synchronization with the pace of implementation of the programme at the ground level, thus, resulting in parking of huge funds in Saving Bank accounts at all levels (CEOs/ZEOs/Schools). As a result, the balances with the six test-checked CEOs also increased from Rs 29 crore ending March 2006 to Rs 85.16 crore at the close of March 2011,” it said.
It was also seen in 34 test-checked zones that funds had been released routinely by the CEOs without having regard to the actual requirements which had contributed to accumulation of unspent bank balances of Rs 58.85 crore with the ZEOs. “On being pointed out, it was intimated that the funds were released without having been requisitioned. Reasons for release of funds without being requisitioned were not intimated,” the report mentions.
The CAG audit observed poor utilization of funds under the programmes resulting in huge unspent balances at the close of the financial years at all the levels. “The department had failed to provide basic amenities and facilities to students,” it said.
Despite all efforts of the GOI and the state government, providing ‘Education to all’ still remains a distant dream. “Non-preparation of long and short-term plans based on ground realities, non-monitoring of schemes at all the levels and inadequate internal control mechanism had hampered implementation of the programmes at the school/zonal levels,” the report added.
According to the report mid-term appraisal of ongoing programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-day Meal (MDM) had not been conducted for possible corrections, if needed. Cases of financial irregularities viz. advances paid and awaited adjustment accounts, diversion of funds, abandoned school buildings resulting in unproductive expenditure were noticed in a large number of cases which had dented programme implementation. Huge unspent balances were noticed at every level.
“Action plans should be linked to grass root indicators and performance and prepared by dovetailing funds from different sources to adopt a holistic approach to derive maximum benefit out of investments. Effective monitoring at all levels, revival of systematic and strong internal control system, conducting of inspections by top and middle level functionaries should be established to give a boost to the ongoing programme,” the report recommended.
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