NRHM scam: CAG reports spending irregularity of nearly Rs 5,000 cr

Lucknow: The CAG probing the NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh has found anomalies in spending of around Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme in about two dozen districts of the state. The state health department failed to give proper details of spendings worth around Rs 5,000 crore of the Rs 8,657 crore given to the state, highly placed sources said. The Comptroller and Auditor General submitted a report on its findings to the Governor yesterday, they said, adding that the probe was carried out on the request of the UP Chief Secretary in August last year amidst mounting pressure for a CBI inquiry into the scam. It was also found that the entire amount was transferred through non registered society and contracts worth Rs 1,170 crore were given against the open tendering process and agreement flouting established norms, they said. [caption id=“attachment_189880” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The CAG probing the NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh has found anomalies in spending of around Rs 5,000 crore under the scheme in about two dozen districts of the state. Reuters”]  [/caption] Only one officer of the Principal Secretary rank was making all crucial purchase decisions whereas the rules suggest that three officers of this rank, including one from planning and finance department, should be part of the decision making body, they said. The issue of financial irregularities in NRHM funds came to light when the murder of two CMOs, Family welfare, Dr V K Arya in 2010 and Dr B P Singh in 2011 surfaced and deputy CMO Y S Sachan was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the district jail here. The CBI is also probing the case. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh alleged that the misuse of NRHM funds started in UP during the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 2005. “The Central government has been giving money, but the state government has been misusing the funds. Corruption hasn’t only happened in NRHM but in MNREGS projects also. This is the time for a change in Uttar Pradesh. I am hoping that there will be change very soon,” he said here. Claiming that the UPA government has been sending funds to the state five times more than the NDA government, he accused the state government of wasting them. PTI