In a startling incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, more than 13,000 government school textbooks printed for the 2026-27 academic session were found to have been sold as scrap — raising serious questions about oversight and accountability in the distribution of educational materials intended for children.
These textbooks were printed under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and set aside for free distribution to students in council schools — part of the state’s effort to promote equitable, quality education from primary to Class 12.
What Happened: How the Books Were Diverted
According to District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi, a tip-off on 17 February 2026 alerted officials that a scrap dealer had purchased dozens of textbook bundles and was transporting them in a truck.
Officials quickly intercepted the vehicle in neighbouring Lakhimpur district and brought it back to Bahraich, recovering more than 10 tonnes of books that should have reached students.
Documents found with the cargo suggested the books were sold by the scrap dealer to a firm based in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, indicating that they may have already changed hands beyond the district.
During a stock verification exercise under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, officials discovered that 13,595 textbooks were missing from education department warehouses — prompting immediate investigation.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Following a complaint by the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Ashish Kumar Singh, an FIR was registered at Ramgaon police station under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 against the scrap dealer Dilshad Ahmad, the truck owner and others involved.
Police seized the truck; the driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled. Officers say efforts are ongoing to arrest the absconding dealer and identify other suspects linked to the diversion.
Administrative and Departmental Action
In parallel to police action, the district administration has taken disciplinary action against education department staff implicated in the scandal:
- Two departmental attendants — Shafiq Ahmed and Alok Kumar — have been suspended.
- The contractual district coordinator (community participation) — Ashutosh Singh, and instructor Atul Kumar Singh have been terminated.
A detailed inquiry committee has also been formed to investigate the system breakdown that allowed the textbooks to be diverted in the first place, including physical verification of all education department warehouse stocks in Bahraich.
Concerns and Accountability
This incident has rapidly triggered public concern as free textbooks form an essential support system for students, especially in economically disadvantaged areas where families rely on government-provided materials for education continuity.
Education activists and community members have pointed out that when books designated for learning are instead reduced to scrap sold for ₹4 per kilogram, it represents:
- Loss of critical educational resources before the start of the academic year
- Breakdown in storage, distribution and supervision mechanisms
- A breach of public trust and policy objectives aimed at promoting inclusive school access
Authorities have emphasised that the inquiry will reveal whether the textbook diversion was a result of individual negligence or deeper systemic issues in logistics and monitoring within the education department.
