Assam: Massive misappropriation of funds unearthed under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission in Morigaon

The ongoing investigation led by Morigaon District Commissioner Debashish Sharma has uncovered egregious corruption within the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission. 

The probe, which delved into the implementation of a scheme aimed at establishing digital libraries and classrooms in 90 schools across the district during the 2023/24 academic year, has brought to light a web of deceit and malpractice.

At the heart of the scandal lies the promise of enriching educational resources for students, with the ambitious goal of providing access to knowledge from around the globe. 

However, the reality paints a starkly different picture. Of the 90 designated schools, only a meager two are witnessing any semblance of progress in the construction of digital libraries. 

The rest stand as silent witnesses to what Commissioner Sharma has described as a façade of progress masking profound corruption.

The details of this misappropriation emerged when Abhinash Das, the project engineer overseeing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Mission, sought the commissioner's signature to authorize bill payments. 

It was then that the irregularities in the allocation of funds for the construction became glaringly apparent. 

Funds, allocated in four installments for each school, appear to have been siphoned away with little to no tangible progress on the ground.

As the investigation progresses, the spotlight has turned to one Dhanti Barua, a junior engineer whose involvement has been flagged by Commissioner Sharma. 

With the gravity of the situation becoming increasingly apparent, the commissioner has wasted no time in initiating a rigorous inquiry into the matter.