Now Reading: CAG audit finds BOAT Mumbai diverted Rs 17.34 cr SC/ST grant
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CAG audit finds BOAT Mumbai diverted Rs 17.34 cr SC/ST grant
A CAG report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday says the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT), Mumbai used Rs 17.34 crore meant for SC/ST apprentices to pay stipends to General-category candidates between 2020-21…
The Story in Brief
A CAG report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday says the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT), Mumbai used Rs 17.34 crore meant for SC/ST apprentices to pay stipends to General-category candidates between 2020-21 and 2022-23. The board engaged 1,42,393 apprentices but fell 25% short on SC engagement and 72% short on ST engagement against required numbers.
Instead of retaining the unspent funds or seeking approval, BOAT diverted the SC/ST grant. The audit also flagged irregularities at NTA, NAAC, IGNOU, and IIM Rohtak, including Rs 267.45 crore overstatement of corpus at IIM Rohtak.
The Indian Opinion
This is not an isolated accounting slip but a pattern: reserved funds treated as a common pool when targets are missed. The 72% shortfall in ST engagement shows the real failure is in reaching those meant to benefit. Conveniently, the money still got spent, on general candidates. The test now is whether the education ministry will recover this sum from BOAT Mumbai or simply adjust future grants, letting the violation slide without consequence.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
