Rs 450 crore education channel project under Smriti Irani’s lens

NEW DELHI: HRD ministry's ambitious plan of starting 50 education channels met with some serious questioning from the new HRD minister Smriti Irani on Thursday. Aware of allegations of a scam in the Rs 450 crore project under National Mission for Education through ICT, Irani raised questions about the proposed cost of each studio.

When told that each studio would cost Rs 50 lakh, Irani said she has been a producer and the cost of a Bollywood film set with far superior facilities does not cross more than Rs 70 lakh. Already there are allegations of collusion between consultants for the project and ministry officials. There are allegations that the tender was awarded in a hurry despite the fact that there were only two bidders and one company had raised queries.

Also, people involved with the project are asking the need to have 230 studios throughout the country despite the fact that many institutions already have studios. Minister has also been asking about implications of CAG audit on various projects and programmes of the ministry. In fact, one of the 60 points flagged by the minister includes seeking a note on CAG audit of various school programmes.

Irani is also expected to take a decision on the location of second central university in Bihar. At the insistence of former chief minister Nitish Kumar, UPA II had agreed to give two central universities to the state at Patna and Motihari. However, inclusion of Motihari in the list of central universities was to be carried out through amendment in the Central Universities Act. In the changed political context of Bihar and Delhi, it remains to be seen what decision the new minister takes. She has been briefed in detail by ministry officials.

HRD minister also received representation from her colleague Manoj Sinha, minister of state for railways, on the functioning of Banaras Hindu University vice-chancellor Lalji Singh.