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AMTRON MD refutes APW charges

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 19 - AMTRON Managing Director Dinesh Pegu today categorically refuted the charges levelled by the Assam Public Works (APW) with regard to fund embezzlement in computer training of Anundoram Borooah Award beneficiaries, and threatened a Rs 10-crore defamation suit against the voluntary organization.

The APW president Abhijit Sarma, yesterday, had alleged a financial scam by the State Government-run AMTRON in 2014 and 2015 in the name of training the students who received laptops from the State Government as part of the scheme.

�It is suspicious as to why the APW is seeking the details of only two years, whereas the entire process is nearly same for previous years as well. The companies are selected through e-tendering process to ensure transparency and accountability, which get the work done through the local vendors. In this case, the AMTRON has no connection with G-Net Infotech, as alleged by the organization,� he said.

�Again, for distribution and training, district level committees are formed with the DC, SP, Inspector of School of the respective areas and needless to mention the presence of students and guardians. We also receive photographic and video evidences of the training apart from the report submitted by the respective committees,� he added.

As per the data given by the AMTRON, in 2015, though the companies quoted Rs 1140 per head for distribution and training, a State Government notification restricted the expenses to two per cent of the �total cost of purchase value�, which brought down the expenses to Rs 399 per head with the total expenses being Rs 2.13 crore. A total of 53,076 students were delivered the laptops and were imparted training at district level, barring the rank holders who received laptops at the central ceremonial function, and those who received laptops from AMTRON premises later.

In the year 2014, the distribution and training cost per head was Rs 1,038 and the companies involved were HP and Ricoh. It also furnished a list of the students receiving the laptops.

With regard to allegations about Pegu�s close association with former State Minister Bharat Narah and his MP wife Rani Narah helping in his appointment as AMTRON MD, he said it was a casteist comment made by Sarma.

Responding to the allegations in particular, he furnished his curriculum vitae along with his initiatives to improve the AMTRON.

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