Corruption
worth more than Rs.50 crores in name of Students Scholarship by a coteries of
corrupt Govt. officials, Bankers and brokers of three companies i.e., CSM Technology, TQM
Service and OKCL, a fraud Company
promoted by Govt. of Odisha ,–
A biggest ever scam in
Department of Higher Education
Masterminded by Sri Gagan Bihari Dhal, Secretary of the Dept. Under Nabin Patnaik Govt. unearthed
under RTI
Every year,
Govt. of Odisha in Dept. of Higher Education through
Common Application Form declares
award of different “Medhabruties”
( Scholarship) for the meritorious students
of Odisha pursuing higher studies in the field of general, technical / professional education within or outside the state. Earlier, Students’ scholarship was managed
and sanctioned by Directorate of Higher Education level. But Higher Education
Dept. started managing the Scholarship for professional education from 2011-12, and
all other general scholarship from
2012-13. Presently, Higher Education Dept.
is sanctioning two types of Scholarship
i.e., (a) General ( Non-plan)
for students of Junior Merit ( +2
course), Senior Merit ( +3 Course) & PG Course, (b)
Technical & Professional ( Plan) for students of Engineering, MBBS,
BDS and other professional Courses.
These scholarships are awarded to the
students for the entire course period – first year as fresh and
rest as Renewal years in the following manner
Sl.
|
Category of
Scholarship
|
Name of
Scholarship
|
No. of Scholarship
awarded per year
|
Rate of
Scholarship per year ( In Rs.)
|
1
|
General
|
Junior
Merit ( +2 courses)
Senior
Scholarship ( +3 courses)
P.G. Course
|
10,000 nos
3,000 Nos
1,500 Nos
|
3000.00
5000.00
10,000.00
|
2
|
Technical/
Professional
|
|
10,000 Nos
|
10,000.00
|
|
|
Total
|
24,500
|
16,00,00,000.00
|
*Every year, the State Govt. gives
students scholarship to 24, 500
meritorious students with annual
expenditure of Rs. 16 crores .
Generally, the Scholarship is awarded to a
student for his first time course
on-line. But for renewal of the Scholarship, the
Higher Education Department vide
office order No. 112370/HE dt.
1.5.2013 released a renewal Form
to help the students to apply for renewal of their
scholarship. The concerned students
shall fill up the form online
properly and submit the downloaded form along with all supporting documents
like copy of first page of
savings bank pass book issued
by Banks , last academic performance report etc.
after signature to their
College authorities. After receiving the renewal application, the
College authority shall verify the form about correctness of facts submitted by
the students. The College authority after verification of the renewal
applications shall prepare a list of students for renewal of scholarship and transmit to Higher Education Department.
The information obtained under
RTI reveals that since 2011, the Higher Education
Dept. has engaged three Companies i.e., CSM Technology, TQM
service and OKCL for scrutiny of application form, identification of
students eligible for scholarship and disbursement of scholarship amount through on-line. While CSM Technology and TQM service were assigned
work through tender, OKCL ( Odisha Knowledge Corporation Limited ) was assigned
through only work order. TQM service
was assigned the work from 23.2.2013 to 17.4.2015 annd CSM Technology got
assignment upto 222.2013. OKCL has been looking after disbursement of
scholarship from 18.4.2015.
Total
allotment received and expenditure
incurred for awarding scholarship and
its renewal , thereon under different heads of scholarship are as follows.
Year
|
Total
allotment received ( In Rs.)
|
Total
expenditure incurred ( in Rs.)
|
Total
surrendered/lapse ( In Rs.)
|
2011-12
|
10,00,00,000.00
|
10,00,00,000.00
|
xxxx
|
2012-13
|
18,00,00,000.00
|
8,18,32,000.00
|
9,84,67,000.00
|
2013-14
|
27,14,83,000.00
|
27,02,99,000.00
|
11,84,000.00
|
2014-15
|
49,50,23,000.00
|
49,41,98,000.00
|
8,25,000.00
|
On complaint
of huge corruption and misappropriation of scholarship fund, the State Govt.
has given order No. 13778/HE dt. 26.6.15 for audit of scholarship paid to the students
for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. A
3-member audit team produced the audit Report on 1.2.2016 to G.V.V. Sharma,
Principal Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education. RTI Application was filed to the PIO, dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of Odisha
seeking information about copy of audit Report. The PIO supplied the audit
report on 4.3.17. The Details of irregularities and misappropriation of
Scholarship fund by the Officials in connivance with the Companies has been pointed
out by the Audit Team in their report.
The details are as follows.
1.
There are total no.
of 519 Bills i.e., 80 bills (2011-12), 154 Bills (2012-13), 147 Bills (2013-14),
138 Bills ( 2014-15) prepared for
disbursement of Scholarship money to
the students. Out of 519 Bills, the Audit Team audited only 2 Bills (
Bill No. 108 / 2014-15/7.1.15 ) and ( Bill No. 112/14-15/7.1.15).
A.
Audit
of Bill No. 108/14-15/7.1.15 ( Plan)
Renewal of Scholarship- Under this Bill, 302 no. of beneficiary students ( professional & Technical education) from different colleges
of Odisha were granted
scholarship of Rs. 20,000.00 ( each for
two years@ Rs. 10,000.00. When renewal form for the above 302 no. of students
sought from Scholarship section of Higher Education Dept., they could produce
only 104 no. of students. Rest 198 no.
of Renewal Form was denied on the ground that it has been misplaced. It is presumed that
there is huge irregularities and misappropriation of fund in the name of fake
students. That’s why it was denied to audit Team. However, the audit Team scrutinised the renewal form of 104 students and found huge
irregularities and corruption.
i. The scholarship of Rs. 20,000.00 (for years) has been deposited in fake account in name
of same students. It is as follows.
Name of Student, Course and college
|
Year of admission
|
Renewal Year
|
Bank Account No. with IFS Code
as per renewal form
|
Bank account
and IFS Code as per Bill
|
Soumya Ranjan Mishra, B.Tech. Odisha
Engineering College Bhubaneswar
|
2011-12
|
2012-13
& 2013-14
|
20205121989
SBIN 001
2022
|
31777904387
SBIN
0000046
|
ii. The Audit Team also noticed
that many students had applied for both new as well as renewal of scholarship. The
Detail is given below.
Sl.
No.
|
Beneficiary name
& amount of scholarship
paid @ Rs. 10,000/- per year
|
College/ Institution
|
Year of Admission
|
Period of Scholarship applied
|
Bank A/c No. IFS Code
|
1
|
Sanjay
Kumar Parida
Rs.
20,000/- ( for 2 years)
|
Ravenshaw
College ( MCA)
|
2012-13
|
2012-13
&2013-14
|
20164867115
SBIN0012032
|
2
|
Satyabrata
Dash
Rs.
20,000.00 ( for 2 years)
|
do
|
do
|
do
|
31026116641
SBIN0012032
|
3
|
Sukanta
Kumar Nayak
Rs.
20,000/- ( for 2 years)
|
C.V.Raman,
Bhubaneswar ( B.Teh.)
|
do
|
do
|
32621175730
SBIN0000025
|
4
|
Naresh
Kumar Barik Rs.20,000/- ( for 2 years)
|
C.B.T.,
Bhubaneswar
|
dp
|
do
|
40710100000378
BARAODUNGIR
|
The reason
for validating those 4 nos of forms by principal of
respective colleges at their level as
per norm of guidelines before forwarding them to the Dept was asked to Scholarship section which replied
that as per order of the Govt.
invalidated cases were entertained for sanction of Scholarship. But copy of the
order of the Govt. could not be produced.
iii.
It was also observed that 6 os of Renewal forms were submitted by
College authority to the scholarship section without the seal and signature of
Head of the Institution. These are as
follows.
Sl.
|
Beneficiary name & Amount of scholarship paid
@Rs.10,000/- per year
|
College/Institution
|
Year of Admission
|
Period of Scholarship applied for
|
Bank A/C No. IFS Code
|
1
|
Smita
Susovita
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
College of
Agriculture, Chipilima
|
2011-12
|
2012-13
& 2013-14
|
20061576169
SBIN0007749
|
2
|
Anshuman
Acharya
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
GEC,
Bhubaneswar
|
2010-11
|
do
|
20064148070
SBIN0011574
|
3
|
Akash Ch.
Patel
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
GIET,
Gunupur
|
do
|
do
|
31470307774
SBIN0006799
|
4
|
Amitesh
Panda
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
do
|
do
|
do
|
313037633877
SBIN
0000189
|
5
|
Sagarika
Senapati
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
VIV Tech.
Bhubaneswar
|
do
|
do
|
31166946866
SBIN0010256
|
6
|
Ananya Das
Rs.20,000/-
( for 2 year)
|
Berhampur
University
|
2012-13
|
2013-14
& 2014-15
|
32612209070
SBIN000068
|
On query raised
by the Audit Team about not
validating those 6 nos of renewal forms
by Principal of respective colleges, the Scholarship section responded
that as these were renewed cases
in order to complete scholarship
disbursement as eligible for their study period have been sanctioned. But the Audit Team objected on the ground of
authenticity of such renewal forms which are not given seal in the body of the
form or not by the Principal / Head of the Institution.
iv.
Out of those 104 nos. of Renewal forms submitted to Audit for
verification. 83 nos. of form were sanctioned and Scholarship amount disbursed
without any supporting document like Semester Mark-sheet ad first page of Bank
Pass Book. It is to be noted here that as per Govt.
guidelines for sanction of Scholarship vide Govt. Order No. -12370 dated
1.5.2013, supporting validating
documents in respect of sending renewal application form by the College Authority
is must. So Total amount of Rs.
16,60,000.00 ( Rs. 20,000.00 x 83)
disbursed to those 83 students is
illegal.
v. 17 nos. of Non-Collegiate
students of Utkal University were given Medhabruti.
The Audit Team
found that out of list of 302 nos. of students, 23 nos. belong to Utkal
University, Vanivihar. Again from the
104 nos. of Renewal forms submitted, 18 nos relate to Utkal University. All these list of students was sent to
Chairman, P.G. Council of Utkal University
to confirm whether the enlisted students actually belong to Utkal
University or not. The University confirmed only 6 nos. students as their students
from the list presented by the Dept. and
rest 17 nos. as non-bonafide students.
2.
Bill No. 112/14-15/7.1.2015(PLAN) Fresh & Renewal
Under this
Bill, 564 nos. of students (professional /technical) from different technical
institutions of Odisha were granted scholarship of Rs. 10,000.00 (for a year). Out of 564 nos. of students, the
Scholarship section could not produce renewal form of 140 students (Disbursement of Rs. 14, 00,000.00 to the
students was kept objection by Audit Team). So the Audit Team scrutinised 424 nos. of Renewal form. The irregularities noticed by the Audit Team is as follows.
i.
Scholarship of Rs. 10,000/- sanctioned and posted in a bank A/c
other than the A/C No. mentioned in
beneficiary’s Renewal Form.
Sl.
|
Name of
Beneficiary /Course
|
College/Universities
|
Year of
Admission
Year of
Renewal
|
Bank Ac.
No. & IFS Code as per Renewal Form
|
Bank A/C
No. & IFS Code as per Bill
prepared
|
1
|
Ashis
Palai, B.Tech
|
NIT
Rourkela
|
2011-12
2014-15
|
31863049455
SBIN0002109
|
8895575397
SBIN0002109
|
2
|
Laxmikanta
Nayak, B.Tech
|
DO
|
do
|
31886436753
SBIN0002109
|
30886436753
SBIN0002109
|
ii.
Scholarship disbursed to 17 nos. of Students @ Rs. 10,000.00 without
verifying supporting documents like Semester Mark-sheet and copies of first
pages of Bank Pass Book.
On query about it, the Scholarship section replied that
they were paid as per earlier
payment data available in the Computer
system and moreover Semester Marksheet is not mandatory while sanctioned
renewal case. This clarification is objectionable as the Govt. has already
issued guideline vide Dept. order No. 12370/dt. 1.5.13 that production
of Semestar Marksheet is must at the time of applying for Renewal of
Scholarship.
iii.
Scholarship amount ( Rs. 10,000.00) disbursed to 6 nos. of students
without attachment of validating documents
& seal and signature of Head of the institution.
Sl.
|
Name of Beneficiary
|
College/Institution
|
Year of admission
|
Renewal submitted for the year
|
1
|
Dibya Sundar Swain
|
IMIT, Cuttack
|
2013
|
|
2
|
Amit Kumar Acharya
|
EAST
|
Do
|
|
3
|
Subhendu Kumar Subudhi
|
CEB
|
DO
|
|
4
|
Amiya Mahanand
|
VSS Medical
|
2011
|
2014-15
|
5
|
Yudhisthira Badak
|
DO
|
DO
|
DO
|
6
|
Bibekananda Mohanty
|
GEC, BBSR
|
2013-14
|
DO
|
On
query, the Scholarship section said
that “ as these were renewal cases and
earlier data payment available, Scholarship was sanctioned”. The Audit objected it o the ground of
authenticity of the renewal form as
the form is not signed by the Principal/ Head of Institution.
Verification of documents of beneficiary students who received
Medhabruti (Scholarship) , out of unvalidated list submitted by TQM.
During 2014-15, the Agency in charge of selecting
final list of eligible beneficiary students to receive Medhabruti/Scholarship
had furnished two different list of students to the Scholarship section.
One
is validated list and another Unvalidated List
·
What is Validated
List- The
validated list comprises those names , applying for the first time , whose Medhabruti Forms were received by the Agency
from respective colleges with proper verification and authentication of their validating documents by Competent authority.
·
What is Unvalidated
List- this list contains of those names whose Medhabruti
forms were not validated and forwarded by their respective college authority to
TQM. Their validating documents were not
authenticated by respective head of the Institution.
Accordingly,
during 2014-15, Scholarship (Medhabrurti) was sanctioned and disbursed @ Rs. 10,000.00
to 417 nos. of eligible
beneficiaries as per validated list. Again, the students in
the unvalidated list 7112 nos. were also disbursed scholarship @ Rs. 10,000.00 during this year as per verbal order of the
then Principal Secretary Sri Gagn Kumar Dhal and F.A.C.-cum- Special Secretary
to Govt. in Higher Education Dept.
The Audit carried out test-check of validated documents out of the unvalidated list of 7112
no. of students from 10 nos. of
Colleges. The selected Colleges are
i.
Utkal University ( both
Professional and P.G. Courses)
ii.
C.V. Raman College of
Engineering , Bhubaneswar
iii.
Govt. Engineering College,
Bhawanipatna
iv.
College of Engineering &
Technology , Bhubaneswar
v.
Silicon Institute of Technology, Sambalpur
vi.
Silicon Institute of
Technology, Bhubaneswar
vii. Gandhi Institute for
Education and Technology , Bhubaneswar
viii.
Institute of Technical Education & Research, Bhubaneswar
ix.
Centurion University of
Technology and Management
During verification of the documents supplied by 10
colleges/institutions, the Audit Team found that a
total no. of 2196
students were sanctioned scholarship out of unvalidated list of 7112 of 2014-15. The College Authorities submitted validated
documents for 1378
nos. of students leaving a balance
318 nos of students to be verified
by Audit Team. On verification of those 1378 nos. of validated documents, the
Audit Team noticed the following irregularities.
·
32 nos. of students are found
not eligible for award of Medhabruti for the year 2014-15.
·
Out of Non-production of documents
for 318 nos. of students as intimated by
the College authorities, 58 nos. of students
are not bonafide students of their institutions.
Result of Audit
A.
A sum of Rs. 1,69,40,000.00 is
found as irregularities out of which Rs. 92,50,000/- is suggested for recovery and a sum of Rs. 76,90,000.00 is held under objection.
B.
The Audit recommended that
effective steps may be taken by the College authorities to recover the amount
already disbursed to inelligible/ fake students.
C.
In order to manage Scholarship
disbursement to the eligible and deserving students, a more effective and
simpler software may be developed by the verified agency thereby reducing the risk of disbursing scholarship to ineligible
and non-collegiate students.
Overall Analysis
A.
Out of no. of 519 Bills
prepared for disbursement of
scholarship from 2011-12 to 2015, the Audit Team picked up only two nos. of Bills for audit. Out of two
Bills verified by the Audit Team, it was
found that Rs. 1,69,40,000.00 was found
as irregularities which has been misappropriated by officials of Higher Education Dept.,
Authorities of College/ Institutions, Company and their Dalals.
B.
The Higher Education Dept. has not taken any steps
for audit of rest 517 nos. of Bill. If all the Bills are audited, the magnitude of irregularities will be more
than Rs. 50 crores.
C.
It The involvement of both the
then Secretary Sri Gaga Bihari Dhal, IAS and F.A.-cum-Special Secretary of Higher Education Dept. in this scam
can not be ruled out . They might have taken huge money as bribe
by passing verbal order for
disbursement of scholarship to 7112 nos.
of unvalidated cases. This money has gone to
ineligible and non-collegiate students of both Govt. and Private
Colleges/Institutions. It requires
further investigation by a competent Investigation Agency like CBI.
D.
Though the Audit Team has submitted its report
since February, 2016, the Higher Education
Dept. has not taken action against any officials
till yet.
E.
The State Govt. should
not hand over disbursement of scholarship to private Companies like MQM,
OKCL et.
F.
The State Govt. should go
for maintaining utmost transparency in terms of putting all eligible students
with their marks in website and
College notice board selected for scholarship. So that irregularities can
be checked.
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date-24.7.17
