SC, ST hostels being used by cops, pvt institute: CAG report

In Narendra Modi8217;s Gujarat, the educational complex Uttam Gram Vikas Seva Trust, Ambeli, in Valsad district does not exist.

In Narendra Modi8217;s Gujarat, the educational complex Uttam Gram Vikas Seva Trust, Ambeli, in Valsad district does not exist. Yet, the Government gave a grant of Rs 1.89 lakh to the trust between 2002 and 2004.

In Left-ruled West Bengal, two hostels constructed at the cost of Rs 31.26 lakh with the capacity of 140 SC, ST students in Malda and Nadia districts are being used to house local police personnel and offices of sub-divisional officer since 2001.

In three districts of Jharkhand Dhanbad, Dumka and Ranchi, three hostels for STs and one hostel for SCs are occupied by police officials. A kindergarten school is also being run in one of them.

In Andhra Pradesh, Rs 12.6 lakh 8212; meant for coaching classes for ST students between IXth and XIIth 8212; was spent on food bills.

In Uttar Pradesh, one girls8217; hostel for 50 SC students in Varanasi was used as a home for beggars and another boys8217; hostel for 50 SC students in Meerut, built at Rs 18.71 lakh, was being used by a privately-owned J Sons Merchant Navy Institute.

At a time when affirmative action for Dalits and the marginalised is high on political consciousness and national agenda, these are some of the most shocking findings in an 80-page performance audit report, prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India CAG on the 8220;Educational development of Scheduled Castes and Tribes8221;.

The report, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday, spans a period from 2001 to 2006 and covers 35 states and Union Territories UTs. It examines the schemes funded by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Tribal Affairs and their implementation.

The report has more such cases:

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8226; In Maharashtra, Rs 6.77 lakh was given to an NGO, Dagadu Naik Shaikshanik and Samajik Sanstha, during 2002-3 for running a residential school for 100 ST students. Inspection revealed that it was being run in temporary bamboo sheds and basic facilities like toilets, bathrooms and electricity were not there.

8226; In Jharkhand, two district offices Dhanbad and Ranchi spent Rs 2.61 crore for buying books for two institutes between 2001and 2006 without bothering to find out how many SC/ST students were enrolled.

8226; In Haryana, 67 to 97 per cent residents were non-SCs in three hostels meant for SCs.

8226; In Himachal Pradesh, Rs 1 lakh was given to the National Institute of Technology in Hamirpur but only eight sets of books were bought with money.

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8226; In Assam, six hostels, built at a cost of Rs 5.8 lakh, were used as staff quarters, staff common rooms and classrooms.

8226; In UP again, there were no furniture in eight out of 10 hostels meant for SC, ST students.