Salaries of 63 college principals withheld in Odisha for CAPA non-compliance

The Higher Education Department of Odisha withheld the salaries of principals of 63 non-government-aided degree colleges across several districts for reportedly failing to maintain college accounts in the mandated CAPA (College Accounts Portal Application) module.

A department letter from the Accounts Officer to the Government, Sri Jumar Kumar Majhy, issued on Tuesday, informed the defaulting principals that “It is now decided that your salary for the month of January 2025 onwards is withheld until compliance by you.”

According to the letter, the Higher Education Department issued repeated instructions and reminders to these principals to update college accounts for the 2024-25 academic year in the CAPA portal. However, the principals failed to meet the deadline and as a result, their salaries have been withheld indefinitely as per the department’s formal order.

Notably, Jajpur district has the highest number of colleges, with the salaries of 11 principals being withheld. Similarly, Khordha has 8 defaulting principals, Ganjam has 8, Jagatsinghpur has 5, Cuttack and Balasore each have 4, and Puri has 3 defaulters, besides other districts of the state.

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Worth mentioning that the CAPA (College Accounts Portal Application) is a digital platform implemented by Odisha and several other  Indian states to streamline financial management and enhance transparency in higher education institutions.

CAPA facilitates online submission, tracking, and monitoring of college accounts, enabling regulatory bodies to oversee financial transactions and ensure compliance with government directives. The portal aims to improve efficiency, reduce paperwork, and promote accountability in the utilization of funds allocated to colleges.

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Why is updating college accounts on the CAPA portal important?

Timely updates on CAPA are crucial for transparency and accountability. This allows regulatory bodies like the Higher Education Department to monitor financial health and ensure funds are utilised appropriately. It also helps in the accurate disbursement of grants and aids.