Mail News Service
Imphal, July 15: The CAG has informed that as per norms, the focus upon Computer Aided Leaning (CAL) will be given in UPS to create computer aided education facilities in the districts. Hardware, software, training, maintenance and resource support could be included in this component. The intervention was introduced in 2005-06 in Bishnupur district only and thereafter, all the districts were covered in 2009-10. During 2006-11, an amount of Rs 8.75 crore was spent on CAL which included provision made during 2009-10 for Computer Lab in 135 schools at a cost of Rs 4.45 crore and provision made again in 2010-11 for Multi-Seat Solution Computer Lab in 90 schools at a cost of Rs 4.14 crore. Audit analysed the contract for providing Computer Lab in 135 schools and the result are discussed in the following paragraphs:
(i) Undue benefit to contractor: The SMA signed contract agreement (March 2010) with MANITRON for installation and commissioning of Computer Lab in 135 UPS/Cluster Resource Centres (CRC) at a cost of Rs 4.45 crore with stipulation to complete the same by June 1, 2010. The SMA was to retain Rs 38.3 lakh as security deposit for ensuring maintenance for four years. MANITRON was to be paid Rs 2.69 crore as advance. The remaining amount was to be paid in two instalments amounting to Rs 1.03 crore and Rs 34.48 lakh respectively. The final payment was to be made only after commissioning of all the 135 Computer Labs.
Scrutiny of records at SMA revealed that MANITRON was paid the full net amount of ? 4.06 crore in March 2010 through three cheques of amount equal to the instalments stated above. However, it was seen that installation of Computer Labs commenced only in January 2011 i.e., full eight months after scheduled date of completion. As on date of audit (July 2011), Computer Labs were installed/commissioned in only 117 UPS/CRC leaving a balance of 18 Computer Labs. Thus, MANITRON was given undue benefit by giving full payment even before commencement of the work and also in granting advance payment to the tune 60.45 per cent of cost. The action of the SMA also resulted in loss of interest income that could have accrued on the amount of Rs 4.06 crore.
Further, as per the contract, each identified school was to receive a one KVA solar power system costing Rs 1.70 lakh. During visits to schools, it was seen that Ngaimu Jr. HS, Ukhrul had received a generator. The headmaster of Chadong Jr. HS, Ukhrul District stated that his school was given one generator instead of solar power system. In another five schools solar power systems were neither installed nor received . It was seen that none of these schools was electrified and without solar power system it would not be possible to derive full benefit of the computer aided education facility as schools were not provided funds for meeting the recurring cost of running a generator. Thus the contractor was again given undue benefit at the expense of the Scheme.
The SMA stated (December 2011 and February 2012) that cheques/Pay orders were prepared to avoid fund lapse at the end of the financial year and the final instalment of Rs 34.38 lakh was retained in the form of a demand draft dated March 2010 drawn in favour of MANITRON, as process of installing computers was not complete. The Executive Committee had granted time extension till end of February 2012 for completing installation failing which proportionate amount would be deducted from the final payment. The final outcome was not known as of February 2012. The reply is not acceptable as action of the SMA was against norms of financial propriety and had resulted in loss of interest income. Moreover, validity of the demand draft in question had also expired. Further, non-enforcement of the time schedule of the contract deprived intended beneficiaries from the benefit of computer aided education facilities. (ii) Benefit of computer aided education facilities denied: Test-check of records at the SMA revealed that out of the 66 schools visited by the audit team, 15 schools had received either Computer Lab or Multi-Seat Solution Computer Lab.
Computers facilities were seen in seven schools. In four schools , computers were stated to be kept at the Headmaster’s residence. In another three schools, computers were not available/could not be shown to the audit team. At Andro Jr. HS, though the computer room with all electrical installations was in place, computers were kept at the cook’s house as the room was occupied by labourers engaged in construction of new classrooms. These facts were verified in the presence of the headmaster concerned on the day of school visit. Thus, the benefit of computer aided education facilities were denied in seven schools inspected by audit. The SMA (Decr 2011) stated that computers have been recovered from the headmasters and kept in the custody of the concerned DPO. Reply not acceptable as keeping computers meant for schools at the DPO defeats the very objective.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/computer-aided-learning-programme-a-fiasco-computers-missing-cag/