Even as children struggle to get access to good education in several parts of Odisha, a headmaster of a school in the State was placed under suspension on shocking charges of selling text books meant for the students to scrap dealer (kawadiwala).
The headmaster of Sargigarh Upper Primary school in Koida block of Sundergarh district, identified as Chhanda Charan Singh has been suspended from service following an inquiry by the Block Education Officer (BEO).
As per reports, the BEO had conducted an inquiry after getting information regarding the selling of books to the scrap dealer by the headmaster of the concerned school. The matter had come to light after an autorickshaw carrying large quantities of text books was stranded on the road after a breakdown on April 18.
The vehicle was carrying around 3,000 text books of several academic sessions. Taking strong cognizance of the incident, BEO Md Shakeelur Rehman and three members of the Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator (CRCC) went to the school and initiated a probe on Wednesday.
“We received an information regarding breakdown of a vehicle carrying some text books and after an inquiry, we found evidence regarding unauthorized selling of text books,” said Rehman. The BEO has also submitted a report to the District Education Office for necessary action. Local residents have demanded a detailed investigation to ascertain the involvement of others in the case.