Teachers' Day celebrations adds to addtl expenditure of Rs13.53 lakh

Gangtok, Mar 11 (UNI) The Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) in its 2006-07 report has termed last year's state-level Teachers' Day celebrations 'extravagant' with an additional expenditure of Rs 13.53 lakhs, apart from diversion of funds from Plan Outlay in Mid-day Meal Programme.

The celebrations had been observed at Guards Ground in Gangtok, where teachers from all parts of the state had been invited. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was the chief guest on the occasion.

According to the CAG report, the programme was initially scheduled at Chitan Bhavan at an estimated expenditure of Rs 3.57 lakhs. Meetings held later conveyed a change in venue to Guards Ground and All Sikkim Education Conference at an estimated expenditure of Rs 11.58 lakhs.

Due to non-availability of funds in the relevant head of account, Rs 10 lakhs was re-appropriated from the Plan outlay under Midday Meal programme, the report says.

Further on account of heavy expenditure on pandal and lunch, the estimated expenditure was subsequently revised to Rs 17.10 lakhs.

''Thus, celebration of the occasion (Teachers' Day) in an extravagant manner resulted in additional expenditure of Rs 13.53 lakhs (Rs 17.10 lakhs minus Rs 3.57) apart from the diversion of funds intended for Mid-day Meal Programme to meet the expenditure, said CAG report.

The matter was referred by CAG to the department on July 2007.

However, no reply was received until October 2007.

UNI BG LL RL KN1657