Retrieval of pinched comps begins, probe on the cards

The computers had been purchased from funds released by MLA Victor Freitas from his Local Development Fund. They were meant to be used by tribal children studying at the Marathi High School run by the Free Methodist Mission Umri (Pandharkawda). It has now come to light that the computers were taken away in a well-planned manner by another Christian trust in Yavatmal. Jaishree Dilpe, headmistress of the school which was meant to use the computers, told TOI on Wednesday that she had received 19 computers, 19 printers and other accessories in February from the Local Development Fund of sitting MLA Victor Freitas of Nagpur. However, all the computers and other accessories were taken away by the Yavatmal-based Din Bandhu' trust within two days and used in an ITI run by the institution to mint money. Initially the headmistress was reluctant to give any information on the issue, but when pressed she admitted that the computers were given to the Din Bandhu trust and also named the persons who transported the computers. "Today I got back 10 computers from Din Bandhu and they have assured to return the remaining computer sets before July 27," Dilpe said. On further queries, the headmistress also admitted that two years ago she had received five computer sets and accessories from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan wing of the Education Department and two computer sets from the Local Development Fund of the then MLA of Kelapur Shivajirao Moghe. She was not able to give a convincing explanation when asked about the location of the seven computers she had received two years back. The headmistress pleaded innocence in the murky affairs though she admitted that the computers should have been kept in the school and used for the tribal students. "The teachers were trained under the government's SSA scheme but they could not teach the students in the absence of the infrastructure, including the computer sets," she admitted. Even though the 19 computers are coming back to the school in question, some questions remain unanswered. It needs to be revealed who filed the application for release of the MLA's fund and what were the documents filed in support of the application? What precaution did the district authority take to ascertain the veracity of the application and genuineness of the applicant? Where are the seven computers that the school received from SSA and Moghe's fund?