A scrap dealer of Bhavnagar was caught late night on Tuesday for allegedly dealing in textbooks of standards 8-12 weighing around 10 tonne!
Scrap dealer Ashraf Ibrahim Kalawadia paid Rs96,000 to a worker, Batuk Chatur Marwadi, who was employed at the government godown in Valukad village in Bhavnagar. Four other workers, along with Marwadi, were involved in the deal where they 'delivered' 10 tons of textbooks to Kalawadia.
According to director, state school textbook board, BJ Bhatt, "Yes, there were textbooks in this deal, but the scrap did not contain only textbooks. It had some other materials too, which was found in the truck the workers were driving to deliver to Kalawadia."
Bhatt also said that, "However, these textbooks are of the year 2008-09 and for standards 8-12. As far as my department is concerned, we just deliver the books to the DEO before June 15, that is, before commencement of schools. These textbooks are divided into saleable and free categories. The DEO then decides which category has to be delivered where. Our role is restricted to printing and delivering textbooks to the DEO."
As for the godown, Bhatt said that it was a govt granted school at Valukad village where the textbooks were found. "We have directed the DEO to take adequate action against the guilty and whoever is responsible will be duly punished. If required, the DEO has been directed to file a police complaint. All these activities are taking place under the supervision of the commissioner of schools, CV Som."
Figures of the number of textbooks in the 10 tons of 'scrap' are still not known.
The matter is currently under investigation by the authorities. Despite repeated attempts, Som was unreachable.
Hasmukh Adhia, principal secretary, state education department said, "We will file a police complaint and demand a serious probe into the case by the CID (Crime). However, the stock of textbooks is of 2008-09. But that doesn't mean that there should not be a probe. In fact, we want to get to the bottom of the case as there are chances that someone from the education department may be involved in the racket and we want to find such people and punish them.
Every year, in spite of ensuring proper and adequate supply of textbooks, there are certain elements who corner the stock of books and then create artificial shortage in the market to defame the state government and the education department."
Bhavnagar collector DG Zalavadiya said, "We have ordered an inquiry by a sub-divisional magistrate and are expecting the reports by tomorrow (July 1) evening. We can talk about the issue only after that."
