School board hits back at graft charges

The members also rued the sharp criticism by Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal by stating that it had been based on some kind of misunderstanding. Agarwal too had lashed out against the corruption in the school board and appointed two officials to conduct an inquiry while directing that the godowns where the remaining uniforms were stocked be sealed.

School board members including Vijay More, Narayan Sarvan, Vilas Kale and Bipin Gupchup among others pointed out that it was a fool-proof system and explained that the laboratory report received on December 18, 1998 showed minor technical faults in the dresses. Immediate orders were given then to retain the remaining 10 per cent of the bill to the contractors, Ubhe said.

Nearly a lakh dresses have been distributed with 11,000 in the godowns. According to the laboratory report the uniforms would not last for more than one and a half years. Another objection which had raised by the corporators was the dresses were extremely short and poorly stitched. Ubhe said that it was not feasible to take each child’s measurements and the board should have been approached if they were problems.

Meanwhile, the members also levelled charges against corporators Usman Hiroli, Ramdas Pawar, Kamal Dhole-Patil, Ajit Apte, Vilas Wadekar by alleging that they served their own interests and even tried to pressure the school board members to get their work done.