Tab funding row: Education Dept told to follow Lakhi Bhandar model by Nabanna

The West Bengal Education Department is under scrutiny over irregularities in distributing funds meant for students to buy tablets. With mounting complaints both domestically and internationally, state authorities have now recommended that the department adopt the successful Lakhi Bhandar project as a model for handling student tab funds. This initiative, championed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been praised for its transparency and efficiency, leading to positive political outcomes for the Trinamool Congress.

A high-level meeting led by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was held at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters, to address the issues plaguing the tab funding scheme. During this meeting, education officials were advised to emulate Lakhi Bhandar’s operational model to ensure transparency and proper allocation of funds. Although this was presented as advice, sources suggest it was more of a directive from the state’s top brass to enforce accountability in future financial distributions for students.

According to Nabanna officials, this model emphasizes the need for stringent oversight to prevent any malpractice in fund disbursement. Authorities highlighted the importance of ensuring the government’s positive image by maintaining transparency in every public-facing project, particularly where financial distribution is involved. In the meeting, officials were reminded that any issues arising from mishandled funds could harm the state’s credibility and that extra caution must be exercised in fund transfers for public-oriented projects.

To streamline the tab funding, schools are required to register students on the 'Bangla Shiksha' portal. For students in vocational courses in classes XI-XII, a separate portal called 'Turuner Swapna' is used. Students must register with their personal bank information, including the bank name, branch, IFSC code, and account number. However, because Aadhaar linking is not mandatory for these accounts, some payments have reportedly encountered issues, with funds occasionally being misdirected or delayed. The Lakhi Bhandar model, by contrast, utilizes Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to avoid errors and has operated successfully for over three years without any complaints.

The suggestion for adopting the Lakhi Bhandar model also extends to incorporating insights from the Department of Women, Child, and Social Welfare, which oversees the project. The scheme, now benefiting over 2 crore women, has demonstrated a reliable framework for ensuring funds reach the intended recipients efficiently and without discrepancies. Education department officials have been encouraged to consult with their counterparts in the social welfare department to implement similar measures and improve the accuracy of student tab disbursements.