Pune: A scheme under the guise of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has been implemented by municipal authorities in Pimpri-Chinchwad, but three months later, students have yet to receive their promised school supplies.
The few items distributed so far have been of poor quality and incomplete, raising concerns among parents about possible deception by contractors and the involvement of municipal officials.
In previous years, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation provided grants for school supplies to approximately 51,000 students. This year, the corporation claimed to implement DBT, yet instead of transferring funds directly to students’ accounts, they purchased supplies from long-standing contractors.
Parents are questioning who is benefiting from this arrangement as it has become clear that many of the distributed items do not meet the required standards.
Out of the 12 contractors who submitted school supply samples for government inspection, only two passed. The others provided substandard materials, including poorly made water bottles, bags, and incomplete sets of shoes.
No Distribution of Urdu Mapping Notebooks
The supplier did not distribute Urdu mapping notebooks to students. Navneet Publications did not print these notebooks. Moreover, due to the upcoming curriculum change for grades one to four next year, the printing of these books was reduced, resulting in a shortage of supplies.
Hundreds of Urdu-speaking students are deprived of textbooks. No supplies have been provided yet at Kalyani Corporation's Nigdi Municipal School or Kalbhor Gotha School.
Supplies Unused in Schools
In the Sant Tukaram Nagar area school at Chinchwad Station, supplies are stored in a room but have not been distributed to students. In schools within the Nehru Nagar complex, supplies are kept unused.
Neglect by Clerks
One employee allegedly took a 40 to 45 percent discount, partnered with contractors, and supplied the materials to other contractors. Additionally, the employee has established a company in someone else's name to supply materials and make financial gains.
This issue is being discussed among municipal employees and officers, but no action is being taken, citing a lack of evidence or complaints. A stationer was assigned to supply the materials, but instead, a canteen operator is handling the distribution.