Since the inception of erstwhile SarvaShiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhiyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme inJ&K, the Government of India (GoI) is pumping large sums of money forinfrastructural up gradation of the schools. However, the investment isliterally going down the drain in absence of proper planning in J&K .
Most of the school buildings approved undererstwhile SSA and RMSA schemes in J&K await execution of construction workover the past many years and the department seems to be least bothered aboutit. Also, the work on hundreds of schools buildings sanctioned over the yearshas been left midway by the contractors and these buildings do not have anywatch and ward from the department, leaving them abandoned.
Over the years, successive regimes inJ&K have failed to come up with a plan for their utilisation despitespending crores of rupees on these projects.
The official data states that the schooleducation department has failed to start construction work on around 1290buildings sanctioned under different components under SSA and RMSA schemesduring past many years. Also, work on 386 buildings has been left in mid-may.These include 240 school buildings sanctioned for different middle schoolsafter their up gradation to high school level.
As per the official data, 555 schoolbuildings were sanctioned as strengthening component for schools facingaccommodation crunch for students. But out of this, work on only 264 buildingshas been completed so far while as work on 278 buildings sanctioned in pastyears is yet to be started. “The work on 13 buildings is under progress,” readsthe document.
Around 305 additional classrooms weresanctioned for different schools out of which work only 82 buildings has beencompleted so far, and 29 in under progress. However, the department has failedto start construction work on 194 buildings.
The MHRD also approved 254 rooms toestablish science laboratories and 302 buildings to set up computer rooms outof which only 59 and 77 are completed. “Work on 172 science laboratory roomsand 198 computer rooms has not been started so far,” the figures reveal.
An official meanwhile said the constructionof all these buildings was left midway either due to cost escalation or somekind of “nexus” between zonal authorities and the contractor. In past yearsvarious scams were unearthed which exposed the nexus between the contractorsand officials at zonal level in the construction of buildings. Some cases werealso referred to vigilance department for probe and money was recovered fromerring officials of the department.
“The construction on these buildings wasstopped due to the additional requirement of funds. Ironically the work wasstopped for a few lakhs and ultimately these buildings were abandoned. Andnobody knows about the funds which were sanctioned for schools on which workhas not been started so far,” the official said.
Given the delay in completion of work onschool buildings, the government has brazenly wasted resources and occupied theland in school premises leaving students without any space for theirparticipation in extracurricular activities in schools.
“In most of the cases, the contractors leftconstruction work midway citing cost escalation. But the reason behind the costescalation is that the building is approved by MHRD with a specific projectcost. But the department consumes more than a year in completing the proceduresto start execution of work. By the time rates go up and contractor leaves thebuilding midway,” said an official from planning section of the educationdepartment. He further said the department wastes years for identification ofthe land for construction of the school buildings. In some cases, theconstruction gets halted due to land disputes.
While the funds worth crores have gone downthe drain in education department in the name of opening up new schools orproviding additional accommodation to students under SSA and RMSA scheme, tilldate, no official inquiry or departmental inquiry has been ordered against theofficials and contractors who allegedly misused these funds in the name ofinfrastructure expansion in the school department.
Few years ago the school educationdepartment constituted engineering wing in the department to executeconstruction works. This wing was constituted to avoid delay in completion ofthe projects and cost escalation. It has four divisions – two each in Jammu andKashmir including Ladakh. Each division is headed by an executive engineer whois on deputation from R&B department. Division first includes the areasfalling in central and north Kashmir district while as division second hasjurisdiction over south Kashmir districts. Division three and four includesJammu, Sambha, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch and Doda.
“Given the present scenario it seems thatthe department has dumped these under construction buildings but if departmentputs in little efforts, most of these schools will be made functional andstudents will get proper accommodation in their respective schools,” anofficial said.
Just to put it down here, the SecretarySchool Education Department, Hirdesh Kumar did not respond to repeated calls.