: Officials of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) have unearthed a scam in procuring 10,000 tabs meant for distribution among schools in Andhra Pradesh.
The firm, which supplied the tabs in April, tampered with the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and collected about Rs. 60 lakh excess amount from the government, the SSA officials said.
Following directions from the SSA State Project Director G. Srinivas, the officials lodged a complaint with the Krishna district police, who swung into action on Saturday.
According to sources, government decided to distribute tabs to headmasters in 10,000 schools across the State for uploading data of students’ strength, attendance particulars, implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, distribution of books, and other details.
The government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for supply of 10,000 SIM cards for a year at Rs. 84 lakh.
The SSA invited tenders for supply of tabs for which a Hyderabad-based private company made the quotation, and promised to supply the same at MRP. However, the company allegedly tampered with MRP and collected higher price.
SSA Krishna District In-charge Project Officer A. Subba Reddy said the company collected Rs. 7,100 per piece while the MRP was Rs. 6,500. It was observed that the firm erased the MRP and put excess rate on each tab.
Files to be seized
“As the State headquarters was shifted to Vijayawada, we stored the tabs at the local office and have till date distributed 9,400 tabs. In the meantime, the SSA officials detected the fraud,” said Mr. Subba Reddy who is also the District Education Officer.
Machilipatnam Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) D. Surya Sravan Kumar said a complaint was lodged with the Chilakalapudi police who launched an investigation into the scam.
“We asked them to submit all the files and tender documents relating to the project. Details will be gathered from the SSA State office headquarters,” Mr. Sravan Kumar told The Hindu .
The State government ordered a departmental inquiry into the scam and action would be taken against SSA officials if they were found negligent, an officer said.
As the State headquarters was shifted to Vijayawada, we stored the tabs at the local office and have till date distributed
9,400 pieces
A Subba Reddy
District Education Officer
