Performance Audit on Functioning of Residential Schools & Hostels for ST Students in Madhya Pradesh (2012-2017)

Abstract

During the years 2012-13 to 2016-17, State Government incurred INR 2,686.12 crore on functioning of residential schools and hostels for scheduled tribes (STs). However, residential schools and hostels were deficient in infrastructure, such as inadequate accommodation for inmates as well as staff, cots, dinning space, toilets, incomplete construction works, etc. Tribal Affairs Department increased seats in 247 pre-matric hostels without any actual increase in the accommodation capacities of these hostels. Residential schools had substantial shortage of teachers, which affected the quality of education. Collectors failed to ensure regular health check-up of inmates. Commissioner Tribal Development furnished fictitious utilisation certificates of INR 113.84 crore in respect of grants-in-aid received from Government of India during 2012-13 to 2016-17. Audit also noticed untraceable advances of INR 6.03 crore which were released to Collectors eight to 15 years back, besides violation of codal provisions in purchases. The instances mentioned in this Report are among those which came to notice in the course of test audit for the period 2016-17 as well as those which came to notice in earlier years but could not be reported in previous Audit Reports; instances relating to the period subsequent to year 2016-17 have also been included, wherever necessary.