Madhya Pradesh

• 30 Jan 2024

MP Lokayukta Probes Scam in State Board

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.

Merger of Public Health and Medical Education Departments

Why in News?

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the proposal of merger of the Medical Education department and the Public Health department.

• Currently, hospitals come under the purview of the Public Health department while medical colleges and associated facilities fall in the domain of the Medical Education department.

Key Points

• With the merger, medical colleges will be able to focus on critical and specialised treatments and medical education instead of routine medical services and it will become easier to affiliate district hospitals with medical colleges.
• The cabinet also approved the following:
  • The proposal to Parliament seeking amendments to the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The proposed amendments include the removal of minor violations related to water pollution from the category of crime.
  • Amendments to Madhya Pradesh Ayurvigyan Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, 2011.
  • A proposal to set up Pradhan Mantri College of Excellence in all 55 districts under the National Education Policy.
  • Creation of 1845 academic and 387 non-academic posts at these institutes.

The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

• This Act was enacted for the prevention and control of water pollution and maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water. The Central and State Pollution Control Boards have been constituted under section 3 and 4 of the Act respectively.
• The Act was amended in 1978 and 1988 to clarify certain ambiguities and to vest more powers in the Pollution Control Board.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

• The NEP 2020 aims at making “India a global knowledge superpower”.
• It is only the 3rd major revamp of the framework of education in India since independence.
  • The two earlier education policies were brought in 1968 and 1986.