Sack Nyeiwang: Cong

Kohima, Apr 19: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today staged a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan demanding the resignation or removal of the School Education Minister Nyeiwang Konyak for alleged embezzlement of funds.
The NPCC submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor Nikhil Kumar along with documents that revealed that a sanction of `5,35,13,00 (Rupees  five crores, thirty five lakhs and thirteen thousand) vide order No. EDS/Grant/15/2006-07 under Plan and Non-Plan was received from the Centre as grant-in-aid for recognized private schools.
It claimed that out of the amount, only `10 lakhs was released to 33 schools for infrastructural development and `20 lakhs released to the Directorate of School Education purportedly for conducting interview for Graduate teachers. NPCC in the memorandum said another amount of `51,00,000 (`51 lakhs) was received by the minister himself which was used up without any valid reasons
NPCC said the minister (Nyeiwang) himself admitted in 8th and 9th assembly sessions, that he used the money as donations while attending various functions as chief guest. NPCC claimed that out of the total grant-in-aid fund, an amount of `1,34,000 (Rupees one Crore Thirty four lakh and thirteen thousand was missing.
The NPCC memo also asserted the minister has so far failed to furnish a detailed list of expenditure despite having given assurance to the house.
NPCC also alleged that `54.98 (Rupees fifty four lakhs and Ninety Eight thousand was released as grant in aid to special institutions out of which the minister had allegedly embezzled `16,11,000 (Rupees sixteen lakh eleven thousand) while the rest of the amount disbursed and the beneficiaries includes private individuals.
It was also alleged that under  Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) an amount of rupees 11,97,40,000 (Rupees eleven crore, ninety seven lakh and forty thousand) was released to the state Education Mission Society (NEMS) during the financial year 2009-10 but pointed out gross irregularities were detected in the same scheme. Further, a consultation fee at the rate of 8 percent of the total cost of the scheme was also agreed upon the NECS for civil works.
NPCC also highlighted the controversy surrounding appointment and contract agreement with M/s North East Consultancy Services, Aizawl, Mizoram which was appointed directly without floating any tender in violation of established norms. NPCC said in order to carry out the pre-project activities of RMSA, on January 6,2010, the government  agreed to pay NECS 1.5 percent of the total amount approved  and another 1.5 percent for the succeeding years.
Further, NPCC pointed out that even before the contract with NECS was to expire in 2012, the government extended it further to  2016-17 on June 23,2010 by an addendum on the deed agreement   without floating a fresh tender. 
It also pointed out that   `2,56,07,895 (Rupees two crore, fifty six lakhs and seven thousand eight hundred ninety five) against the cheque No. 186623 dated 4/10/2010 was paid to the NECS Aizawl as consultancy fee and `324,41 lakh (Rupees three crore twenty four lakh and forty one thousand) paid as consultation fee for civil works. In total, NECS received `5,80,58,895 (Rupees five crore eighty lakh, fifty eight thousand, eight hundred and ninety five) without executing any substantial work.
NPCC also pointed out that as part of the pre-project activities under RMSA during 2009-10, one lakh copies of calendar were printed in a private firm M/s Bhabani Offset & Imaging system Pvt. Ltd, Guwahati by spending `14,00,000 (Rupees Fourteen Lakh) at the rate of `14 per calendar. NPCC said the department thus incurred so much expenditure as the rate was much higher than that of the government printing press and therefore resulting in unnecessary loss. Further, NPCC pointed out that as mandatory, the name of the firm (Bhabani Offset, Guwahati) was not printed in the calendar.
In view of the prima-facie evidence, the Congress had demanded on the floor of the house that the chief minister sack School Education and SCERT Minister Nyeiwang Konyak. However, NPCC said contrary to the demand of the opposition, the chief minister defended and protected the corrupt minister and having no option, has urged the Governor to sack Nyeiwang and also institute a   thorough probe into the irregularities.
The dharna today was led by NPCC President SI Jamir and opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi who were also joined by  MLAs- K.V Pusa, H Chuba, Kongam Konyak, Tarie Zeliang and Lampha.