The District Education Officer (DEO) of Puri, Deepak Padhi, ordered the stoppage of salaries for 72 headmasters after they failed to submit reports on awareness programmes.
The directive came following repeated reminders to conduct and report activities under the Snake Bite Death Reduction Programme and Lightning Awareness Programme. Each headmaster had received Rs 4,500 to organise the awareness camps in their respective schools.
However, officials confirmed that no information or utilisation certificates were submitted regarding the programmes. As a result, the DEO initiated strict action by holding up their January 2026 salaries until further notice.
The decision aims to enforce accountability and ensure that funds allocated for public safety initiatives are properly utilised. The DEO emphasised that such lapses will not be tolerated, as the programmes are crucial for protecting students and communities from natural hazards.
The enforcement team also indicated that further disciplinary measures may follow if compliance is not ensured.
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