The Kolasib headquarters of Mizoram’s apex student group, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), has lodged a complaint with the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking a probe into the alleged anomalies in financial management and missing funds from the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) office in Kolasib.

Speaking to reporters at the Kolasib Press Club on Saturday, Kolasib MZP president Zosangliana Rokhum said the student organisation has sought information from the director of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) through an RTI petition, according to which the directorate released Rs 164.05 lakh to Kolasib DIET from 2013 to 2018.

During the course of investigation by the student body it was discovered that there were irregularities and anomalies in financial management because of which funds were missing, he said.

He said an FIR was filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau on February 28, asking the investigating agency to probe the matter.

Rokhum said the RTI report given by Kolasib DIET was not similar to the one given by SCERT or the directorate.

While the SECRT said Rs 164.05 lakh was issued to Kolasib DIET from 2013 to 2018, the district institute in its RTI report said only Rs 25.27 lakh was provided for in-service training during the same period, he said.

Rokhum said in October 2018 the student organisation had sought information on the amount of funds received for conduct of in-service training and the number of in-service training held from 2013 to 2018 through an RTI.

The student body also sought information on the attendance sheet, he said.

Rokhum alleged that the names of many teachers, who had already died or retired, still appeared on the attendance sheet.

He also alleged that many teachers, who did not attend the in-service training from 2013 to 2018 were recorded as attending the same and their signatures were forged by a single person.

He alleged that Rs 164.05 lakh sanctioned to the institute was missing.

He said they had approached state education minister Lalchhandama Ralte and Kolasib constituency MLA K. Lalrinliana and appealed to them to look into the matter.