Lakhs lost to fake repair bills, no work done in these 2 Madhya Pradesh schools

India Today

06-07-2025

Two government schools in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district - Sakandi and Nipania - have come under scrutiny after social media exposed suspicious billing records showing inflated labour costs and maintenance claims, despite minimal or no actual work being carried out.In the case of Sakandi government high school, official records show a payment of Rs 1.06 lakh was made for painting and repairs. However, the bill oddly claimed the engagement of 168 laborers and 65 masons for just 4 litres of oil paint. This raised serious questions about the authenticity of the completed work.advertisementSimilarly, in the government higher secondary school in Nipania, Rs 2.31 lakh was withdrawn for using 275 laborers and 150 masons to paint with just 20 litres of oil paint and install 10 windows and four doors.
The revelations triggered a wave of public outrage after the bills surfaced online. Authorities, meanwhile, have now promised an inquiry. Shahdol District Education Officer Phool Singh Marpachi acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and assured that the matter would be probed.Beohari SDM Narendra Singh Dhurve confirmed to Aaj Tak that he had visited the schools for a spot inspection after learning of the alleged fraud. He admitted that not only was the quality of work substandard, but much of it remained incomplete. He added that all related documents had been summoned for verification and that strict action would follow against those found guilty.A peculiar anomaly was also flagged in the billing records: the principal of the Nipania school had reportedly verified the bill on April 4, 2025, while the construction agency, Sudhakar Constructions from Odari, generated the same bill a month later, on May 5. The timing discrepancy has further deepened suspicions of deliberate fraud and document manipulation. Despite these glaring errors, the treasury office approved the payment.The incident casts a harsh light on the deteriorating condition of rural schools in Madhya Pradesh. While central and state governments allocate funds regularly for infrastructure maintenance, poor quality construction followed by systematic misuse of maintenance grants through inflated and possibly forged bills continue to plague the education sector.- EndsMust Watch