JAJPUR: The Jajpur District Education Officer (DEO), Krushna Chandra Nayak, suspended two school headmasters in the district on Saturday for allegedly misappropriating Mid-Day Meal (MDM) funds in their respected schools. The suspended teachers are Chittaranjan Kar of Mandia Primary School under Dharmasala block and Bharat Chandra Barik of Korei Nodal Upper Primary school under Korei block in the district.
The step was taken against the accused after they were apparently found guilty in the inquiry reports submitted to Jajpur Collector Ranjan Kumar Das. They had allegedly registered fake names of students in the school attendance record. Das had ordered a probe into the matter after several public complaints were received against the duo at the Collector Grievance Cell. The Collector had director the DEO and the DPC to probe into the matter.
Following Das’s orders, the officials paid surprise visits to the schools and detected several irregularities, including misappropriation of MDM funds, unauthorised absence of teacher, fake attendance of students, sources said.“During spot inquiry, it was found that the headmaster had listed names of more than 250 fake students in the attendance register. He was even drawing funds and rice for Mid-Day meals from the block office,” said the DEO.
“Though as many as 420 students’ names were enrolled in the MDM attendance register, in reality, 150 students were taking the meals on daily basis,” he added.Similarly, Dharmasala Block Education Officer (BEO) was asked to probe into the allegation raised by the locals. When BEO paid a surprise visit to the school there, he found that the headmaster had put down the names of more than 50 fake students in the attendance register.
“MDM scheme is a nation-wide food programme to help improve attendance in schools while providing adequate nutrition to potentially malnourished students. Stern action will be taken if any school teacher is found to be involved in corrupt practices,” the DEO warned.