Thiruvanathapuram corporation clarifies the SMS scheme confusion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Trivandrum corporation has cleared the air surrounding the allegation over the SMS scheme. The scheme was meant to provide better education facilities to children. Allegations were floated about Trivandrum corporation giving the management to a private agency which the former has denied.

The CIG report found that by giving the management to a private agency, a loss of 67.70 lakhs has been incurred. Following the CIG findings, the government was making moves for an investigation into the issue when the clarification came. The human resource employment and development center( HREDC) has been given management by the corporation. It is located within the compound of the corporation. This center has even got government permission to print books. The sudden incriminating moves to put the corporation in the crosshairs are well planned on by devious minds, corporations staff commented.

According to the 2013 store purchase manual, for more than Rs 1 lakh of purchase, the process should call a tender. For more than 10 lakhs of purchase, an open tender should be called. The CIG findings say these rules were neglected while giving the contract to a private agency.