Meghalaya government fail to implement SSA scheme: CAG

Shillong, Apr 21 (UNI) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)f has charged the Meghalaya's Education Department with ''improper ''implementation'' of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.

''There are still 1.10 lakh children in the age group of 6-14 years, who remained out of schools in the state as on March 2006 after four years of implementation of scheme and expenditure of Rs 50.54 crore,'' the CAG report says.

The main objectives of the SSA was to have all children in schools, education guarantee centres, alternate schools, 'back to school' camps by 2003, to ensure that all children complete five years of primary schooling by 2007 and eight years of elementary schooling by 2010, to bring all gender and social category gaps at primary stage by 2007 and at elementary education level by 2010 and ensure universal retention by 2010.

The CAG report stated that the planning for implementation of the programme in the state was not effective and consequently the objectives of the scheme could not be realised even after four years of its implementation.

''The state government and State Mission Authority failed to utilise 12 to 100 per cent of funds available during 2002-2006 indicating the ineffective implementation of the programme,'' the report said.

Further, it stated that the SMA failed to maintain the SSA norms of 1:40 for teacher-students ratio, which varied between 1:26 and 1:28. Besides, it also pointed the irregular release of funds to the tune of Rs 90.36 lakh for teachers salaries and of un approved schools.

A large number of schools in the state were functioning without building and other infrastructural facilities like drinking water, toilets, and separate toilets for girls, boundary wall were mostly not available, the report revealed.

UNI