Shiksha Samachar: Sarva Siksha Abhiyan falls prey to fraudsters

Sarva Siksha Abhiyan falls prey to fraudsters
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Rizwan Khan on 20/02/2013 23:04:00

Fake organisations use similar name and logo to cheat people with the promise of
jobs

The name Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is becoming a soft target for cheating
people on the promise of jobs. Within nine months, a second case of such
fraudulent organisations which use similar name and logo as the central scheme
and promises lucrative salary packages has been discovered by the directorate of
the mission in the state.
State Project Officer of SSA, Uttar Pradesh, Atul Kumar, has written to all the
district magistrates (DMs) in the state alerting them regarding two such
organisations.
The first is Sarva Sulabh Suraksha Karyakram, run by an organisation called
Lawrence Educational and Development Society, which, as per its website
sarvasulabhshiksha.com, promises opening of new schools, providing uncooked
food, dress and books to students — like in Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, and salaries
to coordinators ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 30,000 per month.
For appointment of coordinators and other staff, the organisation is charging
fee from Rs 750 to Rs 3,550, for different categories. The website also claims
funding from The Pahwa International Society for Child Care, New Delhi,
registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976, as per the
website. The director of the programme is Pradeep Kumar Ashthana and the address
of the society is Azamgarh.
Kumar, in his letter to the DMs, said that the usage of logo of Government of
India, using a logo and name quite similar to that of SSA, as well as its
promise of opening schools whereas schools cannot be opened without approval and
recognition by the state government, is suspicious.
"The present cases promise very high salaries, use logos similar to the
government scheme and has kept the eligibility as only intermediate pass," Kumar
told The Indian Express. Kumar has asked the DMs to probe the matter and
intimate the directorate regarding any objectionable elements.
Source : Indian Express