Massive corruption alleged in construction of 5T schools in Odisha, Minister vows action

Several schools across Odisha transformed under the 5T initiative of the previous BJD government have lost their sheen and those are languishing in poor and dilapidated conditions due to poor quality of construction work. While the walls of some of the schools have collapsed, the colour of some of the other schools has faded. It has been alleged from several quarters that massive corruptions have been made in the construction work and cores of rupees have been siphoned off in the process.

Take the case of Khandianta High School in Kendrapara. The walls of the 5T school have been damaged. The e-laboratory of the school has become useless for any kind of purpose for the students. 

Similar is the case at Dakhineswar High School. The benches and desks of the school have been damaged. The smart LED of the school is lying defunct. Lakhs of rupees have been allegedly siphoned off in the 5T school only by colouring the old walls.

Moreover, the construction of the toilet work of Utkalamani Gopabandhu Vidyapitha at Dosia is yet to be finished and handed over to the school after two years. Several teachers and students have alleged that crores of rupees have been siphoned off by carrying out poor-quality of work in various schools of the district under the 5T initiative.

“Substandard work has been done due to massive corruption,” said a student of Khandianta High School.

“Many classrooms are in dilapidated condition due to poor construction work. It should be investigated,” said Ashis Das, headmaster of Khandianta High School.

Meanwhile, a large chunk of ceiling plaster has fallen off at the Ankadeli 5T transformed High School under Lamtaput block in Koraput district. As a result, several furniture and educational equipment of the school have been damaged.

Similarly, Pedakonda High School in Malkangiri district has been languishing in dilapidated condition just after one year of its construction under the 5T initiative.

Though Rs 55 lakh has been spent from the granted amount of Rs 60 lakh under the 5T initiative, Sangrami Bali Pujari High School in Umerkote block doesn’t have a compound, cycle stand, library and toilet. Similarly, the infrastructure of 5T transformed Badabasini High School is also in poor condition. 

The headmasters of the schools have expressed their dissatisfaction over the development by alleging huge corruption.

“Infrastructure of our school is in a sorry state due to shoddy construction work,” said Lalit Mohan Dalpatiray, Headmaster of Sangrami Bali Pujari High School.

The 5T initiative was launched during the tenure of the previous BJD government in 2019. A target was set to complete the infrastructure of as many as 6,872 high schools across the state with an estimated budget of Rs 3,411 crore under the initiative in the last five years. However, several schools transformed under the initiative have been languishing in poor condition and massive corruption has been alleged.

In response, Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond assured that a probe into the allegations will be initiated and stern actions will be taken against the erring persons.

“The schools under 5T initiative should have been constructed well. We will initiate a probe into the alleged irregularities and stern action will be taken against the erring persons,” said Gond.