Following serious allegations of corruption and procedural lapses in the printing and distribution of school textbooks, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has instructed the Odisha School and Mass Education Department to initiate appropriate action.
The PMO’s intervention comes in response to a formal complaint submitted by RTI activist and whistleblower Pradip Pradhan. The complaint alleges widespread financial irregularities, conflict of interest, and compromised quality in the manufacturing and supply of textbooks destined for school students across the state.
High-Level Lapses and Alleged Conflict of Interest
Central to the whistleblower’s grievance is the involvement of Subhrajit Nayak, Deputy Director (Technical) at the Odisha Government Press, who has been managing textbook printing operations since 2022. Pradhan pointed out that Nayak’s primary posting falls under the Commerce Department, raising questions about his prolonged control over functions under the School and Mass Education Department.
The complaint alleges that Nayak used his position to influence the selection of private printing units and suppliers. Most notably, it asserts that key contracts were routed through a private agency operated by Nayak’s wife, presenting a clear conflict of interest.
Defective Books Distributed to Lakhs of Students
Beyond financial improprieties, the whistleblower highlighted a direct impact on public education. The alleged circumvention of standard procurement and quality assurance checks reportedly led to the distribution of defective textbooks.
According to the complaint, lakhs of school children across Odisha received textbooks marred by printing errors, missing content, and poor production quality, sparking widespread concern among parents and educators.
Calls for a CBI Investigation
With the PMO forwarding the dossier to state authorities for necessary action, pressure is mounting on the state government to conduct a transparent and independent probe.
Pradhan and anti-corruption advocates are calling for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to uncover the full scope of the alleged financial misconduct and hold all involved officials and private entities accountable.
