E-Paper
Being sold in open market, 65 quintal mid-day meal ration seized
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, on Saturday, seized 65 quintal of ration meant for use in the mid-day meal scheme in the Thathri area.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, on Saturday, seized 65 quintal of ration meant for use in the mid-day meal scheme in the Thathri area.
Sources said the ration was meant for distribution to 16 schools in Gundna zone and was allegedly being 'diverted' from the Ghat area to Gundna via Premnagar, at a fair distance from the official destination of Gundna.
"The ration was being diverted for sale to shopkeepers in the open market in alleged connivance with the Gundna zonal education officer. We had received a complaint on the same. We then swung into action and raided a certain store to recover all the ration that should, in the normal course, be distributed to 16 schools," a police source said.
When contacted, zonal education officer Gundna Amar Chand Bhagat claimed to be busy. When HT tried to contact him later, there was no response to repeated calls on his mobile phone number.
Parents resentful
Parents of school students in the Gundna area are upset and resentful over the alleged large-scale bungling in the mid-day meals scheme by the zonal educational officer (ZEO).
"All erring officials, who are part of this large scam that too from children and poor parents' pockets need to be punished severely. Such kind of racketeering is what forces people to distrust all officials and the government machinery," said a parent, not wishing to be named.
Residents respond
Other local residents were of the opinion that the ZEO brought the scheme to Premnagar only to extract extra money in terms of fare from the government exchequer in the name of transportation cost of the ration and other material to schools in the area.
A resident of Gundna said that all erring officials, who are part of this large scam that too from children and poor parents' pockets need to be punished severely. Such kind of racketeering is what forces people to distrust all officials and the government machinery.
Official contacted
When contacted, zonal education officer Gundna Amar Chand Bhagat claimed to be busy. When HT tried to contact him later, there was no response to repeated calls on his number.
