AAP Accuses Delhi Government of Corruption in School Book Printing

New Delhi, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Delhi government of corruption concerning the printing of free textbooks for students in government schools. Saurabh Bhardwaj, the party’s Delhi president, claimed that the quality of the books printed by the education department does not meet the established standards.

Bhardwaj alleged that while the tender referenced NCERT book standards, the actual printing utilized subpar materials. He suggested that there may be as much as a 40% kickback involved, demanding accountability from Education Minister Ashish Sood and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

He pointed out that since the BJP took power in Delhi, various corruption cases have emerged, including irregularities in tenders for medicines, bicycles, rice, and the Delhi Water Board. Now, he claims, the printing of school books has also been compromised. Bhardwaj showcased the NCERT textbook “Malhar” for class eight, highlighting significant differences in quality between the government-printed version and those available in the market.

Upon reviewing the tender documents for books from classes one to eight, he noted that the specifications regarding paper size and quality appeared to align with market standards. According to him, the tender required A4-sized paper with an 80 GSM quality, while the government-printed books allegedly used paper of only 60 to 65 GSM.

Bhardwaj criticized the government-printed books for their inferior quality, describing the paper as thin and dull compared to the market alternatives. He argued that this discrepancy impacts both the cost and quality of the books, estimating a price difference of at least 40%.

He also raised concerns about the print size in the class eight books, stating that the text was so small that it could hinder students’ ability to read. When comparing the government-printed books with those available in stores, he noted a clear difference in print and paper quality.

Additionally, Bhardwaj pointed out that the cover of the government book featured a picture of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. He questioned why inferior quality paper was used instead of providing students with better options and who was responsible for ensuring compliance with the tender requirements.

With half of the academic session already passed, Bhardwaj lamented that students in government schools have yet to receive their books. He characterized this as a serious issue within the education system, accusing the government of prioritizing private schools over strengthening public education.

He noted that private school fees had increased last year and again this year, suggesting that the lack of timely book distribution and better facilities in government schools might push parents toward private institutions.

Bhardwaj challenged Education Minister Ashish Sood to reveal who received the alleged 40% kickback from the book printing process and who was involved. He also called on Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to respond to these allegations.

He raised concerns about similar irregularities in the procurement of bicycles, asserting that the same issues could be present in the book printing process. Bhardwaj criticized the Delhi government for a lack of transparency in public schemes, emphasizing that any negligence in matters concerning children’s education is unacceptable.