By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The KHADC on Wednesday admitted that it was pilferage of funds to the tune of Rs 61 lakh which had compelled the State Government to take over the responsibility of primary schools from the Council in 1984, and it would be impossibly for the fund-starved KHADC to manage the schools even it gets back the responsibility.
Executive Member in charge Education, Grace Mary Kharpuri, while replying to a motion moved by Mawkyrwat HSPDP MDC Enbin K Raswai, said, “After going through various documents, I have found that there was mismanagement of over Rs 61 lakh following which from the Council to run the primary schools by the State Government in 1984,” Kharpuri said while replying to the motion moved by Mawkyrwat HSPDP MDC Enbin K Raswai during the second day on the Budget Session on Wednesday.
“The Government had at that time offered the Council to adjust the funds from the royalties of various minerals which they are due to receive but the KHADC had turned down the proposal. After this refusal the Government took over the responsibility of running the primary schools,” Kharpuri added.
While admitting that under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) are responsible for looking after the affairs of the primary schools, she stated that even if the State Government were to hand back the reins to the KHADC, it would be impossible for the Council to manage the schools due to paucity of funds.
Earlier, moving the motion, Raswai said that it the Council should get back the responsibility of managing the primary schools as is enshrined in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Mawkyrwat MDC also stated that if the Council cannot get back the responsibility of the primary schools then the Education department of the KHADC should be done away with.
Participating in the motion, Nongpoh Congress MDC Dr Celestine Lyngdoh said that if the Council was desirous of managing the primary school then it should first try to arrange for funds.
“It would be impossible for the Council to run the primary schools without the requisite funds,” Dr Lyngdoh said.