Jangalpara High School faces corruption allegations over undistributed uniforms

HT Correspondent

DALGAON, Oct 9: Jangalpara High School, located in the Dalgaon education zone of Darrang district, has come under scrutiny due to allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the distribution of school uniforms. Students at the school have reportedly not received uniforms for the past two academic years, despite funds being allocated for this purpose.

In the academic years 2021-22 and 2022-23, the government allocated funds to provide uniforms to students at Jangalpara High School. A total of Rs 5,95,000 was allocated, with Rs 1,57,000 for classes IX and X in 2021-22, Rs 2,40,000 for classes VI to VIII, and Rs 1,98,0000 in three installments.

However, the uniforms have not been distributed to the students as of the current date. There have been allegations of mismanagement and corruption regarding these funds. Some students have claimed that the in-charge Head Master, Abdul Aziz, summoned Class 10 students for an emergency task and provided uniforms at a tailor’s shop called Sattar Ali in Kharupetia Chariali. This has led to controversy as only a handful of students received uniforms this way, while others remain without them.

Furthermore, students who did not receive uniforms have alleged that the in-charge headmaster threatened them with punishment if they did not wear the school uniforms, which they had not received. It is also alleged that the in-charge headmaster secretly withdrew Rs 1.57 lakhs from the uniform fund without approval from the school staff, as there has been no School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) in the school for the past two years.

Various complaints have been lodged with the Inspector of Schools, Darrang DC, Director of Secondary Education (DSE), and Ranoj Pegu, Minister of Education, but no action has been taken as of now. There are also allegations that an employee named Singh from the Inspector of Schools’ office is involved in sheltering the corruption. Concerns have been raised about the lack of action by the education department in the region.