TURA: The Sub-Divisional School Education Officer (SDSEO) of Dadenggre in West Garo Hills has clarified on the recent news report alleging collection of money from different schools by the office, which was questioned by local MLA, Dr Azad Zaman through a statement.
In a clarification issued here on Tuesday, the official asserted that ‘no money was collected by any official under SDSEO from the deficit/adhoc/government/improved institutions at any point of time on the basis of any such notification as referred to in the said news report’.
“Head Teachers of different schools have been pleading for construction of public toilet in the office premises of the SDSEO at Dadenggre since long but the office could not consider their pleas due to unavailability of funds. Following the launching of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, the head teachers came up with a written demand for construction of the said toilet even volunteering to contribute themselves and a request was made to issue a notification so that other head teachers could do the same, if they so desired,” the SDSEO informed.
The official admitted that convinced by the plea raised by the head teachers, a notification for the said ‘collection’ was hurriedly issued on June 22, 2017, but the same notification was immediately discarded and cancelled vide an order issued on June 27 the same year.
“After discussion with higher authorities on the need to construct a public toilet at the office, it was informed that the matter was being taken up with concerned authorities and that the problem would be solved soon. Instruction was also given to all concerned that funds collected if any, should be refunded to the concerned head teachers, and the matter ended there itself,” the official said.
The clarification added that raising of a ‘dead issue’ by the MLA in the absence of any complaint received from any quarters at that point of time was ‘unfortunate’ and resulted in badly tarnishing his image.