A teacher from Chaudhury Bazar Primary School (No. 466) in Kaliganj, Assam has filed a formal complaint accusing the school’s Principal of misappropriating approximately Rs 10 lakh allocated for the midday meal program. The teacher, Sumana Choudhury, claims that after she raised concerns about the alleged fund irregularities, she was subjected to threats from unidentified individuals.
In her complaint, which was lodged at the Kaliganj Police Station, Choudhury stated, “Three individuals threatened me with dire consequences for discussing the issue with the media.” These threats have heightened her concerns, especially as she believes that her efforts to expose the mismanagement have put her personal safety at risk.
Choudhury alleges that the school’s headmaster, Abdul Muqtadir, has been involved in the mismanagement of funds for the midday meal scheme since 2017. The issue first came to light when the state government issued an official directive requiring all schools to return any unspent or unutilized funds from the midday meal program. However, according to Choudhury, Chaudhury Bazar Primary School did not return any of the unutilized funds, prompting her to launch her own investigation into the matter.
Upon further scrutiny, Choudhury discovered several discrepancies in the school’s handling of the midday meal funds, which she believes amount to financial irregularities. This prompted her to take the matter to local authorities.
In response to the allegations, the Block Development Officer (BDO) visited the school to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Following the visit, a meeting of the school’s management committee was held to discuss the concerns raised by Choudhury. However, the meeting quickly escalated into heated arguments, with tensions running high among the participants. Choudhury, who was present at the meeting, reportedly felt intimidated and unsafe.
In light of the threats she has received and the growing concerns over her safety, Choudhury has called for immediate protection from the authorities. She has also demanded a thorough investigation into the financial irregularities surrounding the midday meal funds. Furthermore, she has appealed directly to the Chief Minister of Assam, urging him to take swift and decisive action to ensure accountability and justice in this matter.
Choudhury’s complaint highlights a significant issue concerning transparency and accountability in the management of government schemes, which are meant to serve vulnerable sections of society, particularly schoolchildren. The allegations have raised questions about the oversight of funds allocated for crucial social welfare programs and the need for stronger mechanisms to prevent misuse at the grassroots level.
