Lokayukta probing scholarship fund misuse — Along

Our Correspondent Kohima, June 3 (EMN): The Directorate of Higher and Technical Education led by its minister has ‘clarified’ the alleged ‘misappropriation of scholarship funds’ meant for technical students. Addressing media persons at a press conference, minister Temjen Imna Along said that the Comptroller Auditor General Report 2017 had showed discrepancies. “The directorate had seen what had gone wrong and re-compensated the CAG and brought back the lost money and it is being submitted,” Along said. According to the department, before it could lodge an FIR, the CAG had already taken up the issue. “The Vigilance (now Lokayukta) had taken up the case through the CAG report. Then, how can Arjun Singh (Director H&TE) comment on who is/are the culprits,” Along said. “If action has to be taken, the Lokayukta will recommend it,” he added. The minister also assured that “no one will be spared if something like that has really happened.” He said that there would be no discrepancies in scholarship fund for technical students henceforth, saying that the welfare of the students is of “utmost priority.” Along added that the department “respect the letter and the RTI” filed by ANCSU. On ANCSU serving a five-day ultimatum for the director to resign, he felt that it was “a little bit too far” on the part of the union. “The issue of CAG report, on which they have based their allegation, is subject matter (sic) in the Lokayukta first,” he added. “When we see that the moral responsibility of our NGO in the form of ANCSU has really gone to the streets and created an image for the H&TE department in a very negative note. We want to tell you very clear that we are open to any questions from anyone of you and from the public in the right way,” Along said. “The public has been misled by the ANCSU to let it be known thinking that this is an issue of this year’s scholarship issue or last year’s. This is the scholarship issue of the technical education students not of general college students from the year 2014-16.” “The most surprising part was ANCSU giving the verdict of law, it was a little bit not justified,” Along said. He also expressed disappointment at the “slogans which were spoken, the words that they have brought” against the department during the agitation. That too “without knowing that law is in the hands of the appellate authority which is investigating the issue,” he maintained. The minister also clarified his silence on the issue. Firstly, he said he was in Delhi; secondly, ‘it is an issue of 2014-16 of which I have no knowledge’; and thirdly, ‘it is under investigation by the Lokayukta.’ Until the Lokayukta delivers its verdict, neither the minister nor the director can make any comment, he added. Along infirmed that the director was currently on leave, adding that the issue had taken its toll on his health. He also announced that the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) will inspect Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu in Zunheboto district on June 4. Other polytechnic colleges in the state will also undergo the NBA scrutiny as it is mandatory, he added.