The ghost of Lecturer Scam in National Cooperative Union of India continues to haunt it. According to reliable sources, Anildo Mukerjee, the joint Secretary in Agriculture Ministry has submitted his enquiry report. The report details various acts of omission and commission committed by NCCT bosses.
Mr Mukerjee, it is said, has recommended further enquiry into the appointment procedure adopted by NCUI and NCCT through some central agency. Readers may recall that Indiancooperative.com has also earlier recommended scraping of the appointment.
Talking to Indiancooperative.com, Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, the President of NCUI said that NCUI is ready to do whatever Ministry suggests, thereby indicating softening of stand on the part of NCUI.
“We had gone to meet Union Minister Sharad Pawar with many options , one of which was cancellation of appointments. We put it before him and asked him to guide us”, said Mr Chandra Pal.
The Minister Mr Pawar did not offer clear cut direction to NCUI President showing hardening of stand on the part of Ministry on inordinate delay in canceling the appointment by NCUI.
Readers can recall that Ministry had earlier put certain conditions before NCUI for resumption of fund disbursal. One of the main demands was scrapping the appointments.
Ministry sources say that leave aside the Minister, secretaries are no less peeved with the style of working of NCUI. They say that NCUI takes fund from the government but work in an autocratic manner. Pressure of babus has perhaps made Sharad Pawar reluctant to take any initiative.
There is a lobby in the Ministry which intends to convert this stand off into “fight for finish” by ordering CBI Enquiry.
Readers may recall Prime Minister Office (PMO) has asked explanation from Agricultural Ministry under which the NCUI functions. The matter relates to the appointment of 40 lecturers by NCCT for their training units located in different parts of the country. There are allegations of unfair means and money-transfer in the recruitment process.