Pandemic Profiteering: Karnataka Private Schools Accused of Pocketing Rs 345 Crore in Excess Fees
Karnataka (The Uttam Hindu): The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in a report presented to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, revealed that private schools in the state overcharged students by Rs 345.80 crore in fees during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21, violating court orders. The CAG criticized the state government for failing to regulate school fees, pointing out that the Department of School Education and Literacy lacked a system to monitor fees at private unaided schools. This absence of oversight led to widespread violations, according to the report tabled on Thursday.
The report also drew attention to the lack of regulations for online schools, warning that this created inequality and division in the education system. In a separate healthcare report, the CAG highlighted issues in the supply of Covid-19 drugs, revealing that Rs 17.79 crore worth of drugs were not delivered to the government by March 2022. Of the total Rs 665 crore in drug orders, supplies worth Rs 415 crore were delayed, with delays ranging from one to 252 days. Additionally, medical equipment worth Rs 288 crore faced delays of up to 217 days, while supplies worth Rs 405 crore were unaccounted for.