AP Govt sends TVs to schools, they reach elsewhere

Hyderabad, July 5: Last month, the Andhra Pradesh Government sanctioned Rs 10.8 crore for the purchase of 5,300 colour TV sets and 25,000 Vi...

Hyderabad, July 5: Last month, the Andhra Pradesh Government sanctioned Rs 10.8 crore for the purchase of 5,300 colour TV sets and 25,000 Video Cassette Players VCPs for schools which were not covered by the audio-visual scheme for government schools in the state. However, according to a Directorate of School Education report, an estimated 7,000 colour TV sets and about 5,000 video cassette players purchased earlier for the decade-old scheme still remain untraced.

According to sources, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked officials to stop purchase of fresh equipment as 8220;the matter needed a thorough probe.8221; 8220;We are seized of the issue and are calling for a report from the director of school education,8221; said a senior government official.

Senior officials insist that the TV sets and VCPs meant for schools reached elsewhere they say either with some village sarpanchs, school headmasters or inspecting officials as the monitoring system is weak.

According to the Directorate of SchoolEducation, 12,800 colour TVs and 7,000 VCPs and 17,250 audio cassette players have been dispatched to about 15,000 secondary and primary schools in 18 districts since 1987-88.

Since its inception in 1986-87, the scheme, launched to improve teaching and enrollment in government-run schools, has become a fertile ground for corruption and misappropriation. Sources in the State education department say that most of the 2.80 lakh audio and video cassettes supplied to schools too could not be traced.

According to a report called for by the then school education director P Subramaniam three years ago, of the total 29,000 TVs and VCPs, at least 50 per cent were not functioning and 10 per cent were missing. But, officials admit, the figures were much higher.

The Central government gave 3,700 colour TVs and 24,00 audio cassette players worth Rs 7 crore to upper primary and primary schools. While State released Rs 1 core to support the system, the Centre extended another Rs 2.5 crore for the scheme.

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8220;As many as2,000 colour TV sets were sent to schools which did not have electricity connection and even a compound wall,8221; a senior officer said. Ironically, he said he had to process a file last year seeking Rs 1.6 lakh for repairs of missing TVs too.

School Education Director R Subramaniam said he was not 8220;aware of the actual position.8221; He said that the scheme was being implemented by the funds from the Central government but declined to comment on the alleged misuse of funds in the purchase. 8220;We are trying to streamline the scheme,8221; he said.

Though as many as 350 colour TVs and about 250 VCPs were 8220;officially8221; reported missing, no complaint was lodged with the police. 8220;Of course, when we insisted on the complaint, many school headmasters lodged formal complaints with us,8221; said an official.

Recently, Rs 40 lakh was released for repairs of TVs and VCPs at the rate of Rs 3,500 for each set. 8220;The amount will certainly go down the drain,8221; the official said.