- Rs. 109 crore embezzled in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-3 project launched by BJP Govt. in 2009
- District Institute of Educational Training officials to visit 4,396 schools to file reports to Economic Offences Wing of CID
Mysore/Mysuru: The Department of School Education, Research and Training (D.S.E.R.T.) has directed all Deputy Directors of the District Institute of Educational Training (DIET) to provide information to the Economic Offences Wing of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) concerning the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-3 project launched by the BJP Government in 2009.
The investigation comes in the wake of a series of scams being exposed in Karnataka starting with Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Karnataka State Board of Wakf.
Implemented across the State, the ICT-3 project (ICT@Schools project) aimed to establish computer labs with servers, computers, digital cameras, printers, and LCD projectors in 1,763 Government Schools and 2,633 aided high schools. The project, which received a budget allocation of Rs. 147 crore, soon faced allegations of a Rs. 109-crore scam, which surfaced in 2010.
FIR in January 2024
Despite initial irregularities being sidelined, the School Education and Literacy Department reopened the case last year, leading to an internal inquiry.
Following submission of the inquiry report by retired IAS officer G.V. Krishna Rao in November 2023, an FIR was filed in January 2024 and the case was handed over to the CID by the State Government for further investigation.
According to the FIR, KEONICS (Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited) entered into an agreement with Chennai-based EVERRON Education Company, acting as a middleman by submitting the ICT-3 project proposal to the Government in violation of regulations.
This arrangement allowed EVERRON Education Company to purchase software even before acquiring the necessary hardware and withdraw funds from the Department.
Rs. 109-crore loss
The FIR states that unnecessary purchases resulted in a Rs. 109-crore loss to the Government. Additionally, the order issued by the Chief Minister was altered and files sent by the D.S.E.R.T. were discreetly closed at the department level to extend undue favours to KEONICS.
This wasteful expenditure led to the failure of the ICT-3 project, as servers, UPS, cameras and printers were bought before the computers, the FIR stated.
After the FIR was registered, the Police arrested an under-secretary-grade officer of the Department, who had served as a special officer for the then School Education Minister in 2009.
The Police were also looking for the then KEONICS Managing Director Hari Kumar Jha and the then MD of EVERRON Education Company P. Kishore.
Fresh circular to DIET
In a fresh circular issued on June 15, 2024, D.S.E.R.T. Director has asked DIET Deputy Directors to form Taluk-level teams including the DIET Nodal Officers and personally inspect all the 1,763 Government Schools and 2,633 aided high schools where the ICT-3 project was implemented.
They must submit a report to the CID under five parameters — site preparation in Government and aided high schools, supply of furniture, supply of computers and peripherals, annual maintenance cost expenditures and networking.
The reports under the five parameters must be filled in the prescribed formats after a thorough inspection of the funds released, equipment and furniture purchased, year of purchase, utilisation of computers and peripherals, plug points, network, wires projectors and UPS along with the field survey reports signed by the school heads.
This post was published on July 19, 2024 7:36 pm