Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Shubham Komarpant, under the banner of Justice for Canacona, has raised a series of questions over alleged irregularities in the functioning of Balram Education Society in Canacona, citing information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The concerns relate to school permissions, the existence and shifting of school premises, the release of government grants, the use of public buildings and compliance with regulations governing educational institutions.
According to the press note, the Education Department granted permission to Balram Education Society to operate a school at Fulamol, Gaondongrim. However, Komarpant alleges that no school building or students were present at the location, despite the school reportedly being shown as operational on official records since 2008.
The press note further questions how permission was granted for Classes V to IX at Fulamol without a school structure allegedly existing at the site. It also raises concerns over the subsequent shifting of the school to Mashifond, Amona, for Class X, allegedly without obtaining the necessary permission from the concerned panchayats, as the two locations fall under different panchayat jurisdictions.
Another serious allegation concerns the allocation of four teachers to the school at Fulamol. Komarpant claims that the Education Department sanctioned teachers for the institution and that the society drew their salaries for four years, despite the alleged absence of a functioning school at the location. These claims call for verification of the department’s records, attendance registers, salary disbursements and inspection reports.
The press note highlights a timeline of permissions and grants that, according to Komarpant, requires clarification. Balram Education Society reportedly received permission to establish a residential secondary school at Fulamol on 9 June 2008. Permission for an English-medium Class V at Amona was reportedly granted on 21 January 2009, while the Education Department released a grant for Classes V and VI at Fulamol on 13 November 2009.
Komarpant has questioned whether two separate schools were being operated or recognised at Fulamol and Amona during this period, and has called for clarification from the Education Department regarding the permissions granted and the grants released.
The press note also alleges that Balram Education Society has been operating a school at Avem, Khotigao, and Talem, Gaondongrim, without the required permission. It cites an RTI response dated 2 March 2023 in support of this allegation. The note further states that permission to shift the school’s premises from Fulamol to Amona was granted in 2013, raising questions about the status of the original school premises.
Questions have also been raised over the ownership and management of the existing Balram school building. According to information cited in the press note, the building was constructed by the Tribal Welfare Department and handed over to the Education Department. Komarpant alleges that the facility was subsequently entrusted to Balram Education Society to manage and provide education to tribal students, and has sought clarity on the terms and conditions governing this arrangement.
The press note further refers to a government grant of ₹63 lakh sanctioned in 2014 for the development of a village school ground at Gaondongrim. Komarpant alleges that the society submitted a site plan relating to Amona in Poinguinim in connection with the matter. He has called for verification of the sanctioned purpose, the site plan submitted, the actual location of the work and the utilisation of the funds.
Citing an RTI response from 2016, the press note also questions a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for handing over the school to Balram Education Society. According to Komarpant, the relevant Cabinet note referred to Survey No. 20/0, whereas the school structure is reportedly situated in Survey No. 20/1A. He has sought clarification on the survey numbers, the ownership of the property and the legal basis for the handover.
Further concerns relate to the use of the Ashram school premises. The press note cites a communication from the Directorate of Tribal Welfare dated 9 January 2025, which, according to Komarpant, states that the Ashram school is owned by the Tribal Welfare Department and that the premises are to be used exclusively for educational programmes. He has questioned whether activities such as Lokotsav are consistent with the conditions governing the use of the premises.
The press note also alleges that the society has been conducting educational activities in private houses at Talem, residential quarters of the Public Works Department (PWD) at Shristhal and premises belonging to the Forest Department at Avem. Komarpant contends that such arrangements raise questions about compliance with applicable educational norms and Supreme Court guidelines concerning the provision of education. The note additionally alleges that the society has outstanding dues amounting to lakhs of rupees to the PWD for the use of its quarters.
Komarpant has called for a comprehensive inquiry into the permissions granted to Balram Education Society, the release and utilisation of government funds, the appointment and payment of teachers, the status of school premises, and the terms under which government property has been made available to the society.
He has urged the concerned authorities to examine the relevant RTI records, departmental files, inspection reports, financial documents and land records, and to establish the facts before taking appropriate action in accordance with the law.
