SARLAHI, Sept 27: A principal of a primary school in Barahathawa Municipality-10 has been accused of rolling out salary to his absent daughter who was appointed a teacher at the Child Development Centre(CDC) of his school 10 years ago.
Mahendra Ray, principal of Shree Primary School, allegedly appointed his daughter Gitanjali Yadav as a teacher against the rules and has been paying her salary although she hardly turns up at the school.
According to the students and their parents, Ray's daughter rarely visits the school but is still paid regular salary.
Action taken against school principal abusing power
Ram Naresh Sah, who was recently elected as the chairperson of the School Management Committee, claimed that Ray has not just been providing salary to his absent daughter but is also misusing the budget meant for the schools physical infrastructure. Other officials of the committee blamed Ray of keeping the computer provided by the District Education Office (DEO) at his home.
"It's been more than a month that he has been going home with the attendance register for maintaining the attendance of his daughter Gitanjali," said Sone Lal Sah, one of the teachers in the school. Not just that, Ray allegedly sold various trees from the school's compound and used the money all by himself.
On September 20, a group of media persons visited the school for investigation. However, Principal Ray and his daughter were not present that day. Chairperson of the committee Sah informed that the officials had filed complaints time and again against Ray at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Tangal, District Administration Office and District Education Office but to no avail.
“We are tired of filing written and verbal complaints against Ray,” he said.
However, Principal Ray has been stating that Chairperson Sah has been against him for no reason. He claims that he has not done anything wrong.
"My daughter was legally appointed to the post and has been regularly attending school," said Ray, adding, "My son-in-law is currently in Japan and my daughter will be going there soon. But she has not been able to come to school since last one month due to ill health."
Devananda Mahato, mayor of Barahathawa Municipality stated that he has been receiving many complaints against the principal lately. He said that necessary action will be taken against him after proper investigation.
