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Centre’s skill development

scheme points to a scam

t was launched as an ambitious
skill development scheme by the Ranchi-based PSU Heavy Engineering Corporation’s CEFC
Narendra Modi government to Pratham Foundation — which was set up as Special Purpose Vehicle
enhance competitiveness, train to implement the Centre’s skill development scheme and being
I and provide grants-in-aid, to
establish Ranchi-based PSU Heavy put forth as one of the famous projects linked with CNIITMASH,
Engineering Corporation’s Common En- Moscow — crashed after three years before it could yield results,
gineering Facility Centre (CEFC) Pratham
Foundation. Three years later, this is also reports manoj prasad
being put forth as one of the famous pro-
jects linked with CNIITMASH, Moscow. Goods Sector” on November 5, 2014, HEC company,no tender was floated.
The facts, however, tell a different story. was eligible to set up Special Purpose On January 28, 2016,after HEC sent a
The project seems to have crashed Vehicle (SPV) to implement the scheme proposal for setting up SPV in the form
before it could yield result. This hap- as per the website of DHI. of CEFC. The proposal,describing its
pened soon after HEC Director Soon, HEC CMD Avijit Ghosh and De- total outlay of 50 crore (with Depart-
(Finance) Arundati Panda questioned partment of Heavy Industry acted quick ment of Heavy Industry’s contribution
legal validity and transfer of money to and fast. He visited CNIITMASH, Moscow. of 30 crore),was approved and HEC
Pratham Foundation and CNIITMASH. An agreement was signed by him with was directed to set up SPV. Next, HEC
Next, Department of Heavy Industry CNNITMASH on December 24, 2015. Al- approved placement order on CNIIT-
issued order winding up this CEFC caus- though he ought to have floated a tender MASH on February 8, 2016. A week later,
ing a huge loss to the state treasury. to enter into agreement with this foreign HEC signed another agreement with
The service record of Arundati, 1985
batch P&T Accounts and Finance Ser-
vice Officer, who blew the whistle in this Arundati Panda Avijit Ghosh
case, has been officially dubbed as ‘not
satisfactory.’
Investigation revealed that lack of skill
was adversely affecting the competitive-
ness of the industry. As per the Ministry
of Heavy Industries and Public Enterpris-
es notified the Scheme on “Enhancement
Of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital