By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 10: The Department of Higher & Technical Education and its implementing agency, the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), have come under the scanner following revelations of widespread procedural and financial irregularities in the execution of education projects in Meghalaya.
Documents obtained through the Right To Information suggest that the tendering and procurement processes for civil construction and equipment under the RUSA scheme were often conducted without adherence to the General Financial Rules or prescribed government guidelines. Several contracts, including major civil works, were reportedly awarded to firms that lacked the necessary experience or qualifications for the scale and complexity of the projects.
RTI applications filed to obtain clarity on project allocations, the selection of contractors, and expenditure have reportedly received evasive or incomplete responses from the department. In some cases, officials cited confidentiality or trade secrecy to withhold information, raising concerns about potential financial mismanagement and a lack of accountability.
According to complaints submitted to media outlets, a notice inviting tenders for construction and procurement works left vendors in confusion. Delays in final allotments and selective issuance of corrigenda compounded doubts about the integrity of the evaluation process.
The tender processes were allegedly manipulated in ways that benefited certain bidders, undermining the principles of transparency and fair competition.
Experts and whistleblowers have urged the state government to initiate an independent investigation into the practices of the department and RUSA officials.
They emphasised that public funds allocated for improving higher education infrastructure in Meghalaya must not be misused or allowed to remain shrouded in opaque administrative practices.
