The school education department has started transferring money afresh to students who did not receive it earlier under a scheme to help them buy smartphones or tabs because of defalcation of funds.

An official in the department said on Thursday they had transferred ₹10,000 to 300 students each who did not get the money earlier. The funds went to unauthorised
recipients.

“We have started transferring money to the accounts of the students who were deprived of the support because of misappropriation of funds. We will ensure that students don’t suffer. A probe is being carried out to catch those who are responsible (for the defalcation). We are awaiting the probe report,” education minister Bratya Basu said.

Students of at least 11 districts, including Calcutta, have yet to get the money
to buy tabs or smartphones because of the alleged irregularities.

The scheme, launched by chief minister Mamata Banerjee during the Covid pandemic, gives ₹10,000 to all Class XI and XII students in government and government-aided schools to buy a smartphone or a tablet to enable digital learning.

An official in the school department said the project continued even after in-person classes resumed in February 2022 because the state higher secondary council often asks government and government-aided schools to hold classes online during emergencies.

“If the students are not provided with smartphones or tabs, they wouldn’t be able to attend online classes. Many students in government and aided schools come from underprivileged backgrounds. They need support to buy these gadgets,” the official said.

The council had in early May asked the schools to start online sessions for those who enrolled in Class XI since the schools were having a prolonged summer vacation because of the heat and the Lok Sabha polls.

The summer vacation continued from April 22 to June 10.

The council again asked the schools to hold online classes for the plus-II students during the Puja vacation — from October 21 to 31 — as the syllabus for the first
semester could not be completed in many schools because of the late arrival of textbooks.

Sources in the department said the process of transferring funds to students in Calcutta who did not get the money to buy the gadgets because their schools provided incorrect data will begin soon.

Last week, the office of the district inspector of schools in the city asked the school heads to provide correct data.

“The revised data has started reaching us and the funds will soon be transferred to these students,” said an official in the department.