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It is for govt to take action: Director of School Education
Contrary to the perception in some quarters, the Director of School Education (DSE) and State Project Director (SPD) of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is not the competent authority to initiate any disciplinary action against a District Educational Officer (DEO) and Project Officer (PO) of SSA charged with committing irregularities or violating rules.
Hyderabad: Contrary to the perception in some quarters, the Director of School Education (DSE) and State Project Director (SPD) of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is not the competent authority to initiate any disciplinary action against a District Educational Officer (DEO) and Project Officer (PO) of SSA charged with committing irregularities or violating rules.
The DSE, G Kishan, clarified this on Tuesday, while explaining that it was not within his purview to initiate action against a DEO, despite being the head of the department. He said he could only write to the government in this regard.
The DEO is competent authority to take action against lower level officials at the district level, while the regional joint director can take action against division- level officials.
Action against the district level officials and above can be taken only by the government, Kishan specified, while speaking to The Hans India in connection with the ongoing enquiry and the steps needed for filing a criminal case against former DEO and PO M Somi Reddy with regard to swindling of public money meant for modern education in madarsas.
“The district collector is chairman of SSA at the district level and the DEO reports to him directly. He can lodge a complaint with the police. Since he has written to the government in this connection, the government has asked me for remarks, which I have already sent,” Kishan said.
Asked whether Somi Reddy was found guilty of irregularities related to madarsas, Kishan said, “I did write to him to take corrective measures when funds were being swindled, but to no use. I have sent my remarks to the government and it is now for the government to take appropriate action.”
It may be recalled that Somi Reddy, some other officials and some private persons joined hands and swallowed nearly Rs 35 crore meant for modern education in madarsas by inflating figures related to students and vidya voluntees and also by releasing funds towards non-existent madarsas.
Biometric attendance Asked about the measures being taken to check such corrupt practices, Kishan said biometric attendance systems would be put in place in all madarsas across the State by the next academic year. About Rs 7 crore would be spent in the first phase to instal the biometric devices, which would be monitored from the State headquarters, he said.
The biometric attendance devices would be installed in as many as 9,000 educational institutions – schools and madarsas – across Telangana in a phased manner. This will not only prevent financial irregularities, but also improve attendance, punctuality and quality of education, Kishan said.
