Nagpur: In a case of sheer wasteful expenditure, the state higher education department’s folly has cost the State Common Entrance Test (CET) cell a whopping Rs31 lakh (approximate) on airfares on an alleged ‘futile tour’ undertaken by 78 venue officers (VOs) during the MAH-LLB (5-years) common entrance test (CETs) held on April 22, 2018 and April 21 this year.
The venue officers, who are teachers from government colleges under the 12 regional directorates of higher education, were assigned duties at 14 cities in as many states across the country at the last moment. Left with no choice, the VOs were forced to book costly air tickets in order to make it to the centres on time.
The on-spot fares ranged between Rs18,000 to Rs25,000 for a round trip. As there was no official confirmation from authorities till late Wednesday evening, TOI estimated that the claims could be approximately Rs31.20lakh assuming an average bill of Rs40,000 per VO for both years.
As per VO appointment letter from one of the directorates, the teachers were handed over assignment order just two days before the CET last year. Not learning from its mistake, the VOs were asked to go for spot fares this year too.
The exam centre are dispersed from Samba in J&K to Bangalore and Ahmedabad to Kolkata. Most of the teachers are based in cities where no direct flight was available and had to take a hopping flight. Trying to comply with the orders issued by regional joint directors, the VOs even traversed through more than two or three cities to reach their destinations on time.
Director of higher education Dhanraj Mane didn’t answer to TOI’s calls and message.
Surprisingly, on both the occasions the joint directors had asked the VOs to book the air tickets from their own pockets and promised them to reimburse the travel cost. However, the bills remain to be cleared by the department even after passage of more than a year.
In his letter to all joint directors dated April 10, 2018, Mane had mentioned that VOs assigned out of state centres would be allowed to travel in economy class and the fare would be reimbursed. It seems the higher education department failed to factor in that last moment booking would make the tickets costly.
VOs from across the state had been sending reminders to the director but to no avail. In fact, the department didn’t even acknowledge their letters while officials in Pune and Mumbai have cold shouldered all such queries.
State CET cell commissioner Anand Rayate told TOI that the 2018 claims have been approved and instructions for NEFT transfers have been given. “Some bills were not in proper format so we had called them again. We are hoping all claims are settled by September,” he said.
The venue officers, who are teachers from government colleges under the 12 regional directorates of higher education, were assigned duties at 14 cities in as many states across the country at the last moment. Left with no choice, the VOs were forced to book costly air tickets in order to make it to the centres on time.
The on-spot fares ranged between Rs18,000 to Rs25,000 for a round trip. As there was no official confirmation from authorities till late Wednesday evening, TOI estimated that the claims could be approximately Rs31.20lakh assuming an average bill of Rs40,000 per VO for both years.
As per VO appointment letter from one of the directorates, the teachers were handed over assignment order just two days before the CET last year. Not learning from its mistake, the VOs were asked to go for spot fares this year too.
The exam centre are dispersed from Samba in J&K to Bangalore and Ahmedabad to Kolkata. Most of the teachers are based in cities where no direct flight was available and had to take a hopping flight. Trying to comply with the orders issued by regional joint directors, the VOs even traversed through more than two or three cities to reach their destinations on time.
Director of higher education Dhanraj Mane didn’t answer to TOI’s calls and message.
Surprisingly, on both the occasions the joint directors had asked the VOs to book the air tickets from their own pockets and promised them to reimburse the travel cost. However, the bills remain to be cleared by the department even after passage of more than a year.
In his letter to all joint directors dated April 10, 2018, Mane had mentioned that VOs assigned out of state centres would be allowed to travel in economy class and the fare would be reimbursed. It seems the higher education department failed to factor in that last moment booking would make the tickets costly.
VOs from across the state had been sending reminders to the director but to no avail. In fact, the department didn’t even acknowledge their letters while officials in Pune and Mumbai have cold shouldered all such queries.
State CET cell commissioner Anand Rayate told TOI that the 2018 claims have been approved and instructions for NEFT transfers have been given. “Some bills were not in proper format so we had called them again. We are hoping all claims are settled by September,” he said.
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