http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/20/stories/2010062061800400.htm
Karnataka - Bangalore
Funds for Dalit students' coaching diverted
T.S. Ranganna
Rs.1.97 crore was used for payment of salaries to DVE staff
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Rs. 2.47 crore was released to DVE under SCP in April 2007
Rs. 1.97 crore was earmarked for payment of honoraria to teachers
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Bangalore: The Director of Vocational Education (DVE) has diverted
Rs.1.97 crore earmarked for providing extra coaching and to supply
study material to students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes for payment of salary expenditure for regular
employees, violating the guidelines of the Planning Commission.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Civil), who disclosed
this serious lapse on the part of the DVE, in his annual report ending
March 2009, said that the Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub
Plan (TSP) are designed to channelise the flow of funds from the
general sector to schemes for development of Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes children.
According to guidelines issued in October 2005 by the Planning
Commission, the State Government was to formulate action plans for
schemes which would directly benefit individuals or families belonging
to SCs and STs.
Funds under the schemes were not to be diverted or allowed to lapse
and should be used for this purpose only. Scrutiny of records of the
Director of Vocation Education in December 2008 revealed that Rs. 2.47
crore was released in April 2007 by the Government to the DVE under
the SCP (Rs.1.76 crore) and TSP (Rs.71 lakhs) for 2007-08.
Out of this, Rs.1.97 crore was payable towards honoraria to the
teachers, who imparted extra coaching to the SC and ST students and to
supply study material to the students, so as to enable them to perform
better in the examination. The balance amount was earmarked for
improvement of infrastructure in schools. The Director, instead of
proposing an action plan to utilise these funds as per the guidelines
submitted in August 2007, came out with a proposal to utilise Rs.1.43
crore under SCP and Rs. 54 lakh under TSP to meet the
salary/remuneration expenditure in respect of selected courses
although the expenditure on this account was to be met out of general
budgetary provisions.
The State Government approved the proposals sent in August 2007 by the
Director and funds were released in the next two months to the
colleges, concerned resulting in diversion of funds earmarked for
providing extra coaching and study material to SC/ST students.
In view of the decline in the pass percentage of SC, ST students from
an average 74.10 per cent (2002-04) to an average 57.72 per cent
(2005-07), it was all the more essential for the Department to ensure
extra coaching and additional study material to the Dalits.
The Government, the CAG said, in its reply in July 2009, argued that
the funds under SCP and TSP were utilised, as sufficient funds were
not available, during the early period of 2007-08 in the regular
budget.
Not satisfied by the reply, the CAG said that it was not justifiable
as these funds were meant for imparting extra coaching and to provide
study material to the SC, ST students and fund diversion denying
direct benefits contemplated by the Commission's schemes for them.
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