Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 17 2010:
In contradiction to the noble professional ethics of being a teacher, the Principal of Manipur Public School, has been caught in a fund embezzlement scam.
The Environment and Ecology Wing selected one school each from Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur districts to build ecology development and demonstration parks with a view to promote practical education about environment and ecology among young students.
For Imphal East district, a sum of Rs one lakh was handed over to Principal incharge of Manipur Public School B Santoshkumar Sharma on April 3, 2008 by the Environment and Ecology Wing for the purpose of the setting up the park.
After the Principal in-charge had submitted a report to the Environment and Ecology Wing claiming that the park has been built, the State Vigilance Commission took up a case and enquired into the claim.
But on enquiry, it was found that nothing was done to build the park, though the sanctioned amount has been withdrawn.
Though the guidelines clearly laid down that the money sanctioned for buil-ding the park should be deposited in the school's account, the amount was never deposited in the school's account.
The APR produced by the Principal in-charge for utilising the amount was signed only by himself although it should be signed jointly with the school's account officer.
The report submitted by the Principal in-charge claimed that a pond has been dug as a part of the park.
But on investigation, it turned out that the same pond was dug in July 2008 by Manipur Development Society.
Though the amount embezzled by the Principal in-charge was not a huge amount, the State Vigilance Commission, taking serious note of the act of fraudulence, has recommended a departmental enquiry and also to recover the misappropriated amount from his salary.
Meanwhile, the Vigilance Commission has discovered that account officer of the school, Santikumar Rai had withdrawn Rs 71,158 for house rents using forged documents.
Like other employees of the State Government, staff of Manipur Public School should get 7.5 per cent of their basic pay as house rent.
But the account officer took 10 per cent of the total salary structure as house rent between October 2002 and March 2008 .
Interestingly, the account officer used to stay in a private rented rooms.
As in the case of the fraudulent Principal in-charge, the Vigilance Commissioner has recommended departmental enquiry against the account officer and to recover the additional house rent he collected from his salary.