Madhya Pradesh
MP Lokayukta Probes Scam in State Board
- 30 Jan 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Madhya Pradesh secondary education board is under scanner of the state Lokayukta organisation in connection with allegations of irregularities in purchase of computers amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore.
Key Points
- A complaint has been filed with the Lokayukta organization, citing major discrepancies in the purchase of computer desktops, photocopiers, and UPS.
- The cost of each computer desktop was reported to be Rs 1,39,350, resulting in a total expenditure of approximately Rs 96.70 crore.
- The department procured hardware for 4,519 cooperative societies, encompassing five devices per pack – desktop, multi-function device (photocopy, scan, print), UPS, VPN, and biometric. The total expenditure for this purchase amounted to about Rs 55 crore.
- It asserts that there is an evident financial irregularity of around Rs 45 crore in the hardware purchase.
- It highlights the inflated rates of the secondary education board's desktops, which were Rs 82,000 more per unit compared to the cooperative department's purchase.
Lokayukta Organisation
- The Lokayukta is the Indian Parliamentary Ombudsman, executed into power, through and for, each of the State Governments of India.
- It is an anti-corruption authority. The objective of the Lokayukta system in a state is to investigate grievances, allegations against public servants.
- The origin of the Lokayukta can be drawn to the Ombudsman in Scandinavian countries.
- In India, the Administrative Reforms Commission, (1966-70), had recommended the creation of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the states.
- Maharashtra was first in this respect with its Lokayukta body established in 1971.
