BADIN, Oct 5: Irregularities have been witnessed in the distribution of the Zakat fund under the first phase of the ministry of religious affairs scholarship scheme in the district.

The government few months back allocated Rs5,541,928 for disbursement among deserving students under the head of the religious affairs ministry scholarship in Badin but this amount is not being distributed judiciously.

Protesting over the alleged embezzlement of the fund, former District Zakat Committee chairman Mohammad Yaqoob Thebo resigned from his post as education officials did not cooperate with him. The officials concerned failed to submit lists with application forms of deserving students and did not announce the scholarship for quite some time.

This correspondent contacted the EDO, education, for a list of the students and inquired about those students of the district studying in the People’s Medical College, Nawabshah, and primary and middle schools who were ignored while awarding the scholarship.

The EDO observed that there was no policy for selection of schools and said even those students who could afford school fees were entitle to get the scholarship. He said the schools selected for scholarships would be notified in the second phase.

There are reports of embezzlement in the distribution of the scholarship money by in charges of primary schools and chairmen of local zakat committees who allegedly drew huge amounts in names of students on roll in schools.

An official of the education department said in many cases the fund for the scholarship was drawn for those schools which were closed. He said many teachers had managed to open admissions to schools to complete the students strength so that the scholarship could be obtained.

He said in charges of schools had distributed less amount against the actual grant of the scholarship. He said education officials selected schools for scholarship grants after getting commission.

Deh Khalifa Zakat Committee chairman Mohammad Umer Bhatti said a major portion of the money went to institutions in urban areas and rural schools were ignored.

He said he was not informed about the scholarship package either by the District Zakat Committee chairman or by headmasters.

Behdmi Government Primary School vice-headmaster Mohammad Hashim said he had handed over a list of 104 deserving students but they were denied the scholarship.

He said schoolchildren in the coastal belt belonged to poor families but they were ignored by the authorities concerned in awarding the money. He said government primary schools of Ahmad Dal, Ramzan Dal, Mir Mohammad Talpur and Noor Mohammad Chang were also overlooked by the authorities.

Faiz Mohammad, a resident of Lowari, said many vice-headmasters had opened accounts in banks showing to be in charges of schools though the accounts could only be opened after a letter was issued to bank by the EDO, education, and the accounts were to be operated by the headmasters only.

The district officer, Zakat, said Rs5,542,000 was distributed among 5,533 students of the district in 107 institutions, including colleges and universities.