Textbook scandal: Corpn GM suspended; Cong demands CBI probe for ‘impartiality’

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh govt has taken action against Prem Prakash Sharma, the general manager of the Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation, by suspending him from his position. This decision comes in the wake of the discovery that school textbooks intended for students of Classes I to X for the current academic session were being sold to scrap dealers, who then sold them to recycling plants.
The incident came to light when new textbooks for the academic session 2024-25, printed by the Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation, were found being sold as scrap at the Real Board Paper Mill in Silyari. Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai immediately instructed additional chief secretary Renu Pillai to investigate the matter. Following the investigation, Sharma was found to have been negligent in his duties and was suspended under the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1966.
Congress leader and former MLA Vikas Upadhyay, who exposed the alleged corruption in the Textbook Corporation, has accused the state govt of trying to protect the influential individuals involved in the case. Upadhyay discovered a significant number of textbooks at a recycling plant in the Silyari region of Raipur district on 15 September. The books were printed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation programme and were meant for free distribution to students in govt schools. Upadhyay stated, "At a time when children in Chhattisgarh are facing challenges with education, the books meant for them to study are being sold in scrap at throw-away prices. The govt has printed more books than required through private agencies who pocketed crores of rupees. This is a loot of the taxpayers' money."
In response to the allegations, the govt has formed a committee led by Rajendra Katara, managing director of textbook corporation, along with officials from the education department and district administration to investigate the matter. Katara assured that all angles would be covered under the probe. However, Upadhyay has questioned the impartiality of the department under scrutiny being responsible for the inquiry and has suggested that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a retired high court judge.