A web of lies and deceit has unravelled in Chandigarh’s education department, leaving around 100 school cleaners defrauded and exposing critical lapses in protocol. The scam involved a fake contractor who impersonated an NGO representative and duped both school officials and cleaning staff.
The story unfolded when Rajiv Kumar, a resident of Ram Darbar, approached the principals of ten government schools. Posing as a representative of a Delhi-based NGO named “Venus”, Kumar offered “free” cleaning services under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) initiative. Allured by the prospect of reduced costs, the principals, in breach of protocol, agreed without seeking proper approval from the Chandigarh education department.
However, the initial promise of free services quickly went blank. Cleaners initially paid a meager Rs 10,000 per month, were soon left waiting for their wages altogether. This sparked resentment and ultimately led to the exposure of the scam.
As per the details, Rajiv collected money from unemployed women, promising them cleaning jobs at school. The Chandigarh Police are investigating the case, with Kumar and his accomplice, believed to be his aunt, facing charges of fraud. The estimated amount duped from the cleaners stands at a staggering Rs 50-60 lakh.
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Adding another layer to the mess, reports reveal that the Government Middle School (GMS), Sector 267 Bapu Dham Colony (BDC), had raised a flag in November 2023. A letter was sent to the District Education Officer (DEO) informing the department about the engagement of cleaners from the fictitious “Venus” NGO. Despite this prior notification, the DEO seemingly failed to act, raising consents about a lack of oversight within the system.
After the fallout of the scam, swift actions took place with the suspension of 10 principles. Additionally, a committee has been formed to investigate the incident and suggest improvements to standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar occurrences.
