The Sarva Shiksha Abhyan scheme was initiated for the purpose of irradicating illiteracy in India as this is factor causing poverty, but the scheme has failed.

Recent census has revealed that there are thousands of families in hundreds of villages in India that are still striving for the facilities of the central government sponsored scheme, Sarva Shiksha  Abhiyan. But the main confronting issue that's being faced by the poor are the irregularities that have engulfed the scheme in every state of the country - something strongly revealed by the different organizations  - especially media.

In Jammu & Kashmir, there have been irregularities in the normal supply of the essentials for the mid-day meals which was a pre-requisite for the students of the schools run under the scheme. But started by some culprits the irregularity has caused a huge obstacle in the way of the poor children to avail such facility such as mid-day meals in a hassle free manner.

Recently, many reports came to light that there are large frauds and mismanagement of the funds allotted for the purpose of the programme. The unnoticed aspects of the irregularities have increased the crores of mismanagement of the funds which were allotted for the purpose of the construction of the school buildings, fencing, toilets, etc. A prevalent  fraud in the funds comes to light when a school is run in a rent-owned building for many years despite the sanctioning of the school buildings - but the amount is distributed with ease between the officials from higher to lower level, which leaves the children of the school to suffer for years.

However, this is not the issue which has been highlighted recently. Every time from the implementation of the programme, it has been revealed and claimed that the irregularities in the functioning of the programme is increasing and should be thoroughly checked and investigated by the government authorities. But as of now there were no serious steps from the government to check this fraudulent function of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme.

Teacher community is much frustrated about the mismanagement because of the difficulties which they are facing in performing their duty as there are number of schools which have been left neglected to initiate the work on their infra structure. This is more common in the backward areas of the state where people do not get access to the actual working of the SSA. The School Education Department is being provided crores of rupees periodically but little amount come to the forefront from the huge amounts collected by the department.  

“I don’t think that we teachers are compelled to suffer for months and years for the allotments of different facilities, is a legal and legitimate activity of the authorities. We notice every time the mismanagement which is revolving round the education department in the state but because of the fear of losing our job which we have got after long struggle, we put the truth behind us. If the civil society will cooperate with us then I do not think that these corrupted officials will be spared,” said, a SSA teacher, wishing anonymity.

There is a free supply for the primary schools under SSA scheme to provide books to the children free of cost. But many a times it has happened that some school children have not availed the books in a specific period of time so they get obligated to buy the books from the market. Some children enrolled in these schools, bunk their regular school going because of the unavailable facilities which were announced for the purpose.

“For all such frauds, corruption and the misappropriation of the funds, the state government is responsible as here we are noticing from the decades that one party is talking negative of others but that goes only a spoken statement which never comes into action which is a form of politics and cannot be denied to have its own wicked interests. Our children are not able to study in private schools because of the low family incomes. But the officials who call themselves honest are the big wolves which are snatching the food from the mouths of the poor children, said, Ab. Majeed, a parent.

Government of the state assured many times of the speedy work and the free flow functioning of the programme and to make the system of education free from mismanagement while monitoring the set of rules for the conduct of the programme but it all becomes a myth because no such initiative came to be working and fruitful for the purpose. This needs an organized strategy which can catch hold of fraudulent officials who have made the scheme a profession of earning through illegal means.

Concerned officials when contacted for comments related to the irregularities, showed the anonymity with the issue as they had never been in touch with fund operation which was allotted to them but not utilized for the purpose. When asked if an enquiry committee constituted by the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) sought the reports from the Education Department then how much are you prepared to face the enquiry? They said it will be made publically available when such an action is sought against the department.