Kochi: The project to supply computers to higher secondary schools in Kochi Corporation limit by the local body is an example of its ineptitude in implementing its schemes.
A sum of Rs 15 lakh was spent by the local body for buying 48 laptops for 13 schools, as per the audit report of the local fund department for financial year 2017-18.
The audit inspection has found that out of the three laptops provided to the SRV Higher Secondary School, two packets were not even opened for nine months. It also found violations of government guidelines in the purchase of the laptops. According to the guidelines, such instruments should be purchased only after a functional demonstration of the same to the school principal and coordinator of the project. The guidelines were not followed in the purchase of the laptops.
The audit report said that such useless expenditures could be avoided by devising projects by taking into account the actual necessities of the schools.
The report detected grave errors in the annual maintenance contract for the computers in the schools. A total of Rs 418,831 was spent for the AMC and putting up name and sign boards of the schools. The AMC was given to a company named Team IT Computers. The guidelines say that AMC should be given to a company registered under the Registrar of Companies with a minimum of three years’ working experience and an authorised service provider for the original equipment manufacturer.
The AMC company was required to check the computers once in a month and service them once in three months. The Team IT has not undertaken any such work, according to the audit report.
The principals in nearly half a dozen schools have given a written undertaking that the company had never visited the schools for inspection, maintenance services or repairing of the computers during the year.
The auditors have refused clearance for the Rs 4,18,831 spent for the project in view of the gross violations of the norms found during the audit.
