Countless allegations have surfaced against an implementing partner of local non-government organisation (NGO) during execution of “Basic Literacy Project” in Rangamati.
Ashika Manbik Unnayan Kendra (Ashika Development Associates) implemented the project a year ago in fiscal year 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at Kaukhali upazila of the district, said sources from Kaukhali upazila nirbahi officer’s office.
The allegations including engagement of fake teachers, showing of fictitious learning centres, running every centre with only one teacher instead of two, not providing full salary (fixed in the project) to the teachers, giving merely two days training instead five days and even embezzlement of money fixed for purchasing stationaries and running learning centres.
All of these findings revealed in a month-long investigation by group of local journalists. If the unbridle corruption is continued unabated, expected result from such a government project can never be achieved.
A total of 530 teachers were supposed to be engaged in all the 265 learning centres. But Ashika virtually appointed only 190 teachers, said teachers of concerned centres and elected representatives in the upazila.
As per the project, Tk 2,400 is fixed for each teacher per month and they would get Tk 14,400 in six months. But in most cases Tk 7-8 thousands is provided to the teachers.
Moreover, Tk 600 provided as training allowance to each teacher for two days training whereas they (teachers) would get Tk 1500 from the full scale training. Even many teachers dispelled after giving them two days training and were not further engaged in teaching, alleged teachers.
Total salary of 530 teachers is stand Tk 76 lakhs 32 thousand and the salary supposed to fully handle by the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of concerned upazila. But salary was given to few teachers through the UNO. In most cases, Ashika authority directly handled in providing salary to the teachers, said teachers.
Though the total number of learning centres were 265 in official documents but there were no existences of so many centres.
There was no existence of “53 no Shilchhari Para Centre” in Betbunia union where two teachers---Kiten Chakma and Ananta Chakma were showed as teachers in the official record. Shilchhari para is hundred percent Marma populated village. So, how did the two Chakma teachers showed here as teachers.
As learning centre ‘Uttar Nailyachhari Para Centre’ was showed in Betbunia union. But there was no existence of such centre in the union, said Khoichabai Talukder, chairman of Betbunia UP.
The names of Anup Kumar Chakma and Shrapon Chakma were showed as teachers in that centre. But Anup and Shrapon were not teachers in that cenre, said Anup Kumar Chakma, adding staffers of Ashika gave him only two days training by providing Tk 600.
They did not further contacted me. Chingcha Thoai Marma said he was the only teacher at ‘Dabua Lamarpara Bhuddha Bihar Centre’ in Fatichhari union, and got Tk 7 thousands as salary in six months.
Ripon Chakma and Babita Chakma were showed as teachers in the ‘Tunkiapara Primary School Centre-1’ in the same union. But both of them were not teachers, said Ripon Chakma.
Dilowara Akhter and Farida Jesmine were showed as teachers in the ‘Adarsha Gram Para Kendra’ where Dilowara was the lone teacher, said Dilowra Akhter. “I got Tk 1080 as salary every single month,” added Dilowara.
Joy Chakma and Supriya Chakma were showed as teachers in ‘Sonaichhari Para Kendra’ in same Betbunia union where only Joy was the teacher.
Talking to Supriya, she told that she gave all her necessary documents to the staffers of Ashika. But she was not contacted further by them, she said.
There will be found more irregularities and corruption if investigation is carried out from the government side.
Talking, Biplab Chakma, executive director of Ashika, refuted allegations and said that everything had done by following government’s rules.
Contacted, Shatarupa Talukder, upazila nirbahi officer of Kaukhali, said she stopped all activities of the project in her upazila due to irregularities. Around Tk 8 lakhs refund to the authority of Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE), she adds.
