The Puri district administration has ordered the withholding of salaries of 72 school headmasters for not submitting reports on awareness programmes related to lightning safety and snakebite management. District Education Officer (DEO) Deepak Padhi said repeated instructions had been issued to conduct and report on the programmes during the last monsoon season.
Each headmaster had received Rs 4,500 to organise the awareness camps, with separate allocations for lightning safety and snakebite prevention. However, officials said no reports were received from the concerned schools, prompting strict action.
Notices have been issued to all 72 headmasters, asking them to submit the reports within seven to ten days. Those who failed to conduct the programmes will be served show-cause notices. Officials clarified that the withheld salaries will be released once the reports are duly submitted.