West Khasi Hill District Deputy Commissioner F Kharlyngdoh has ordered an inquiry into financial irregularities under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme in the District Mission Coordinator (DMC) office in Nongstoin. The deputy commissioner is also the chairman of the SSA in the respective districts and coordinates the implementation of the central government scheme.

Kharlyngdoh told The Indian Express on Thursday that Deputy Inspector of School D Lyngdoh had complained on Wednesday that there was misuse of SSA fund in the DMC office. He said, “I have directed a magistrate to investigate into the allegation of financial irregularities and report back within 15 days.” He said stringent action would be taken against those responsible if the allegation is true.

Allegations of misuse of fund have been coming from East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi. Accusation of misuse of teachers’ salaries of primary and upper primary schools have also been made.

Apparently, the salary of the teachers of lower and upper primary school are being pooled and split between two teachers. The monthly salary of a lower primary teacher is Rs 3,000 and that of the upper primary teacher is Rs 6,000. The two take home Rs 4,500 each.

Teachers appointed under the SSA are paid from the fund provided by the union government that is rotated through the state education department. Even the yearly grant of Rs 500 given to each teacher under the SSA is siphoned as complaints suggest that none of them have been getting the amount.

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