Co-ordinators arrest busts scam in RSTC

The irregularities in the functioning of Residential Special Training Centre (RSTC) came to the fore with the arrest of an alternate school coordinator recently by the anti corruption bureau (ACB).

While the respective mandal educational officers (MEOs) in the district are not giving satisfying answers when questioned about the functioning of RSTCs, the Rajiv Vidya Mission (RVM) officials are found contradicting them.

Under the RVM, the central government introduced RSTCs, in which NGOs in their respective areas identify children between the ages of 6 and 14. The respective NGO will conduct classes for these children. The aim of introducing the RSTC is to implement the 'Right to Education Act' in the most effective way possible.

Sixty three RSTCS are being handled by various NGOs in the district at present. According to  guidelines, each NGO must have at least 50 students. On, behalf of the RVM, the alternate district coordinators monitor the functioning of the RSTC.  The RVM pays Rs 1,668 for each student to the NGO. The RVM also pays Rs 5,000 as salary for each of the three teachers, an attendant and a cook.

Though the respective MEOs have to approve the enrolment of number of students and proper functioning of RSTC, before the payment is made every month, it has been found that the coordinators have been approving the payments without the consent of the MEOs.

In connection with such an incident, the ACB trapped an alternate coordinator while he was taking a bribe from an NGO official.

Speaking to Express, Rayachoti MEO, P Chinnareddanna said that the mandal had 6 RSTCs, though only two of them were functioning. The alternate coordinator had given approval for the payment without the consent of the mandal education officer.

Despite Chinnareddanna taking the issue to the notice of district collector and department of school education over the malfunctioning of RSTCs, yet no action was taken against them and this was allowing the NGOs to continue to loot  public funds.

Denying the allegations, the RVM project officer Suryanarayana Reddy said that they are only paying for students who are admitted in the RSTC, after proper verification.

According to sources, if the ACB properly concentrated on the functioning of the RSTCs in the district, then more corrupt bureaucrats and officials of the NGOs would be in the net.