Odisha Headmistress ‘Demands’ Share In SC/ST Students’ Rs 25K COVID Relief Package

Bhawanipatna: The Kalahandi administration has ordered an inquiry into the allegation that the headmistress of Bandhpari UP school in Lanjigarh block took Rs 3000 each from SC/ST students, who had received a COVID relief package of Rs 25,000.

The government had disbursed the amount to students residing in the hostel towards study materials, meals and other expenses.

A total of 584 students – 310 SC/ST girls and 40 SC/ST boys – are pursuing their studies in the school hostel.

Bishnu Priya, a Class VIII student, said Tilotamma Dalei and her husband, Subash Naik, who is also a teacher in another school, took 3,000 from the Rs 25,000 she had received.

The amount is yet to be credited to the bank accounts of some students and they too alleged that school authorities have asked them to pay Rs 3,000 after receiving the announced package.

The headmistress, however, refuted the allegation. “Under ‘Mo Shcool Abhijan’, Rs 2.5 lakh was collected last year from the alumni but the allegation of taking money from the SC/ST students is completely baseless,” Dalie added.

The Odisha government has committed to credit Pre-Matric scholarship for 5.4 lakh SC and ST students in the state from April 21 to September 21 to the bank account of their parents.