By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A deficit pattern secondary school, established to impart education on Pali (Sanskrit) and which was duly recognized by the Assam Sanskrit Board (ASB), Gauhati, operating from the Polo area of the city is allegedly run by a person who is in his mid seventies and is enjoying government grant-in-aid.
This allegation is concerning Shillong Pali Sanskrit Tol (SPST), which is operating from the private residence of Dilip Kumar Barua, principal of the school. There are allegations against the principal that he is running the school in a very clandestine manner as there is no transparency in the affairs of the school activities.
In an RTI filed by this scribe recently followed by an investigation into the matter it has come to light that Barua, who is in his mid 70s (according to a petition filed by the president of Shillong Buddhist Association (SBA) addressed to the Inspector of Schools) is running the school in his own style.
The RTI reply signed by T Lyngdoh, District School Education Officer (DSEO), East Khasi Hills District (EKHD) said that besides the principal there are two assistant teachers receiving maintenance grant-in-aid from the state government and the school is run in rooms within the residence of the principal.
Ironically, when this reporter went to assess the functioning of the school, the principal refused to comment on anything and even prevented the media to see the classrooms and other infrastructure that the education department is claiming.
“You do whatever you like but I will not allow you to come inside,” was the principal’s reply when he was asked to throw some light into the affairs of the institution. This goes a long way in ascertaining that all is not well inside.
On being asked as to where the classes are being conducted, Barua strangely pointed to the first floor of the Buddha Vidya Niketan Secondary School. However, the school authorities refuted the same and said that the classes were being conducted from the drawing room of Barua.
To another query, on the timing of the classes in the school, Barua replied quite reluctantly that it is being carried out in the morning hours but did not give any specific timings for conducting the classes. He also refused to reveal about the number of students and teachers in the school.
But, the RTI reply clearly reveals the enrollment of students in SPST for the last three years. In 2010, there were 14 (HSLC) students in the Pravesika category, 6 (PU) students in the Madhyma category and 2 (BA) students in the Shastri category. The number of students in the year 2011 was 24 (HSLC) students in the Pravesika category, 2 (PU) students in the Madhyma category and no (BA) students in the Shastri category. The number of students went down further in 2012 with only 14 (HSLC) students in the the Pravesika category, no (PU) students in the Madhyma as well as the Shastri categories
On a question if the school runs regular classes, the RTI clearly says that there is no information available in the Office of the District School Education Officer , East Khasi Hills District as the attendance register of students is maintained at the institution level. Further, the total amount disbursed to the SPST during the last financial year (2011-12) is Rs 5,06,100.00 and the SPST is affiliated under the Assam Sanskrti Board. The grant-in-aid is usually sanctioned monthly or quarterly depending on the availability of fund with the Directorate.
It is pertinent to mention here that the President, Shillong Buddhist Association (SBA), Bibhuti Ranjan Barua has alleged that the SPST is resorting to nepotism.