An open letter from Manish Sisodia’s Education Ministry highlights the subpar work being done by Satyendar Jain in PWD

*Paromita Das

One government department is blaming another for the poor work being done, and the Aam Aadmi Party’s administration in Delhi is currently involved in yet another controversy. The Education Ministry of Delhi, run by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, sent a letter to the public works department, run by Satyendra Jain, who is currently incarcerated, on July 20, 2022. The letter expresses dissatisfaction with the subpar construction work being done in Delhi schools.

“As education is the priority sector for the Government of NCT of Delhi and Govt wants to bring qualitative changes in the education system with all the facilities in terms of infrastructure, academics, hygienic and congenial atmosphere for better quality education,” the Education Ministry of the Delhi government writes to the PWD in this letter. Several complaints about incomplete work, the use of subpar materials, and various construction flaws by PWD have been received from a variety of schools. The Directorate of Education’s very mission is hampered by these flaws. A list of the complaints that were received is included in Annexes “A” and “B.”

Letter written by Education Ministry under Manish Sisodia regarding complaints about poor construction of Delhi schools by PWD ministry (which is headed by Satyender Jain who is in jail) pic.twitter.com/cMM8cDHrG7

— Aman Sharma (@AmanKayamHai_) August 4, 2022

 

The letter continues, “Due to the aforementioned complaints, operating the schools has proven to be very challenging and it also poses a threat to the school’s students, staff, and property. As a result, you are asked to provide your thoughts on the complaints listed in the Annexures.

In an explosive revelation, official communication by Manish Sisodia’s education ministry exposes the deep rooted corruption and miserable condition of Delhi schools under the PWD ministry headed by Satyender Jain. Golmaal hai bhai sab golmaal hai!! pic.twitter.com/TibCGgxGvg

— Priti Gandhi – प्रीति गांधी (@MrsGandhi) August 4, 2022

 

The complaints listed in the Annexure include information about the school’s location, the main complaint concern pertaining to that school, and comments on the most recent action taken in that regard. Many newly constructed buildings have heavy leaks at various locations within the warranty period; low-quality materials were used in various works, and red stone blocks or tiles have fallen from the building, among other issues that have been brought up in complaints.

The letter also discusses newly built buildings, flaws in newly constructed school blocks, and excessive heights of rainwater harvesting systems in school buildings. One of the complaints even claims that a school’s condition is unsafe and that it needs to be inspected as soon as possible.

 

They've given a list of over 15 schools with complaints affecting school, students, their parents, and staff… one of the complaints states the building of school can fall at any time… This is the true condition of Delhi govt schools: BJP National spokesperson Sambit Patra pic.twitter.com/yv5vIRn5XD

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2022

Sambit Patra, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party, reacted angrily to this exposé, saying, “They’ve given a list of over 15 schools with complaints affecting school, students, their parents, and staff… According to one of the complaints, the school’s building could collapse at any time. This is the actual situation with Delhi’s government schools.

It is noteworthy that the Central Bureau of Investigation accused Delhi’s PWD Minister Satyendra Jain of money laundering in August 2017. (CBI). The ED filed a criminal complaint against the AAP leader based on the FIR that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed, alleging that Jain was unable to explain the source of income for four businesses in which he held stock. The companies are accused of laundering Rs 16.39 crores in cash between 2010 and 2014. In accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED detained Satyendra Jain on May 30. He remains behind bars.