Prayagraj: 101 schools get notices for not utilising MP-MLA funds

PRAYAGRAJ: Notices have been served to as many as 101 schools of the district by the project director (PD), District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) for laxity in utilising funds under MP-MLA funds.
These 101 schools had sought monetary help for repair/construction in their buildings from MP-MLA funds and were given the first instalment. However, they never applied for the second instalment.
As per norms, the schools were to be given the second instalment only after submitting the utilization details and certificate for the use of funds given under the first instalment. Now, the official has given notice to these schools to either apply for the second instalment within next 10 days or return the first instalment.
“We have given notice to the school management of these schools as they have not applied for the second instalment of the funds that were given to them under the MP-MLA funds. As they have not applied for the second instalment, there seems to be some foul play because of which we have served the notice,” said PD, DRDA, Ashok Kumar Maurya.
We have asked them to apply for the release of the second instalment within 10 days, failing which they will have to refund the amount of the first instalment, he added. From the financial year 2017-18 to the financial year 2020-21, a total of 101 schools sought a budget from the MP and MLA funds. As per rules, 60 % of the total budget of the repair/construction work is given from the MP-MLA fund.
The second instalment is released after the fund of the first instalment is fully utilised. For this, the utilization certificate of the first instalment has to be given. Schools may have belched the first instalment which is evident as they have not applied for the second instalment even after a long time, which caused the official to become suspicious and thus the notice was served.
Maurya further informed TOI that the schools are from the rural areas of the district and are from blocks, both of trans-Yamuna and transGanga areas. In respect to the breakup of the financial year and funds released through MLA funds, there was one school in 2017-18, 26 in 2018-19, 26 in 2019-20 and 29 schools in 2020- 21 financial year. In the past, orders for recovery were made for seven schools, which have been given one more chance.