Sivasagar: The Right to Information Activists Association, Assam, has asked the Sivasagar District Commissioner to order an independent, time-bound inquiry into how school uniforms were distributed and how funds for school development and repair works were spent in the district.
In a complaint dated August 27, the association pointed to possible procedural lapses, unexplained delays, and gaps in how government-funded school works were supervised and paid for. The complaint was submitted by Bijoy Kutum, general secretary of the RTI Activists Association.
The association, however, clarified that it was not seeking to prejudge the culpability of any individual, school authority, committee, contractor or implementing agency, and has instead urged the competent authorities to independently verify the allegations.
The group wants the Commissioner to examine which scheme funded the works, how much was sanctioned for the district, how funds were split among schools, and whether spending followed applicable financial rules.
It has also asked whether tender and procurement norms were followed — proper public notice, adequate competition, eligible contractors, and work orders issued by the right authority.
School-by-school checks demanded
The complaint’s central ask is a physical, school-wise verification of every sanctioned work: how much money each school got, who was hired to do the work, when it started, how much is complete, and whether the quality matches what was paid for.
The association wants photographs of the current site conditions and the names of officials who signed off on “completed” work.
It has also sought copies of sanction orders, tender records, work orders, measurement books, bills, payment vouchers, bank records, completion certificates and utilisation certificates — the paper trail needed to confirm that money spent actually matches work done.
Delays under scrutiny
The activists also want the inquiry to look at why so many works were delayed or left unfinished — whether due to administrative inaction, stalled tenders, contractor failures, poor supervision, payment disputes, or repeated re-allotment of work.
Where negligence or procedural violations caused the delays, the association wants responsibility fixed.
The Association’s demands include a full financial audit, verification of whether payments were made for work not actually completed, recovery of any money found to be misused, and disciplinary or legal action where warranted.
It has also asked that all original records and electronic data be preserved until the inquiry concludes, and that it be given an action-taken report once the process is over.
The association has sent copies of the complaint to Assam’s Chief Minister, the Education Minister, and the relevant departmental authority.