Odisha / CAG Exposes Lapses In 5T School Projects During Previous Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 10: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed startling irregularities in Odisha’s 5T school education system during the previous government, exposing lapses in infrastructure, teacher availability, and implementation of welfare schemes, officials said on Wednesday.

The report, tabled in the State Assembly, points to large-scale financial mismanagement under the 5T initiative, raising serious concerns about governance in the education sector.

Budgetary Failures

Between 2018 and 2023, nearly Rs11,000 crore allocated to the School and Mass Education Department remained unspent, despite pressing needs for infrastructure development. The CAG noted that schools across the state continue to face severe shortages in classrooms, furniture, and sanitation facilities.

Infrastructure Gaps

Sample inspections revealed that 43% of schools lacked desks and benches, forcing children to sit on the floor. In 23% of schools, multiple classes were conducted in a single room, while 46% reported poor student-classroom ratios. Alarmingly, 15% of school buildings were found to be in unsafe condition, and 19% had unusable toilets.

Teacher Shortages

Despite the mandate under the Right to Education Act, 48% of primary and 43% of upper primary schools had inadequate teacher strength. At the secondary level, 94% of schools lacked arts teachers and 31% had no physical education instructors, severely affecting holistic learning.

Also Read: CAG Report Exposes Massive Scams Under Previous Odisha Govt: Dharmendra Pradhan

Welfare Scheme Irregularities

The report highlighted discrepancies in schemes such as mid-day meals, free uniforms, and bicycle distribution. Between 2018 and 2023, 3.51 lakh students were denied free uniforms, while 1.73 lakh missed out on bicycles. Dropout rates surged, with 1.50 lakh rising to 5.47 lakh students leaving school midway. CAG also flagged mismatches in enrolment data, with 2.5 lakh “ghost students” inflating mid-day meal records, leading to diversion of funds and food grains.

Government Response

School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond assured that the department would conduct a thorough review and initiate investigations if necessary. BJP MLA Saroj Padhi and Deputy leader of the BJD legislature party Prasanna Acharya also demanded accountability for what they termed “systemic loot” of funds meant for children.