CAG report unearths fund embezzlement under ICDS
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 25 2017:
Taking advantage of the ambitious Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) taken up by Social Welfare Department, crores of rupees have been swindled by constructing excess Anganwadi centers under the project .
The ICDS aims at improving the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years and non-formal pre-school education to children to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity malnutrition and school dropout .
As per the report tabled by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in the ongoing 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly session, a total of 2243 Anganwadi centers were constructed much higher than the projected figure fixed based on the total population of the State
By doing so, an amount of Rs 50.77 crore was misappropriated in the name of giving honorarium to helpers and workers of the Anganwadi centers .
Under six test checked ICDS projects, there were 645 Anganwadi center buildings against 2709.Out of these, 182 were pucca buildings, 127 were semi pucca buildings and the remaining 336 were kutcha buildings .
Even though the flagship programme is being implemented in the State for the last 40 years, the State Government could not provide infrastructure to Anganwadi centers .
According to the CAG report which was for five years from 2011-12 to 2015-16, the Central Government released an amount of Rs 365.70 crore during the five years period under ICDS (General) while the State Government released Rs 36.46 crore of its share which is short by Rs 4.63 crore .
Under Supplementary Nutrition Programme of ICDS, the Central Government released Rs 334.91 crore during 2011-12 to 2015-16 while the State Government released Rs 8.31 crore which is short by Rs 27.80 crore of the applicable State share of Rs 36.11 crore .
In violation of the ICDS guidelines which require the State Government to contribute its share of 10 percent proportionately, State share for 2011-12 and 2012-13 was not released .
Inspite of release of grant of Rs 29.46 crore and Rs 73.95 crore by Government of India during 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively, no expenditure was made during these two years thereby depriving the intended beneficiaries of the scheme.
Scrutiny of records of Directorate of Social Welfare revealed that leviable taxes and charges amounting to Rs 4.12 crore was not deducted while making payment to the work agency/contractor for construction of 1000 Anganwadi centers .
This has resulted in loss of Government revenue to the tune of Rs 4.12 crore, the report stated .
The CAG report mentioned that the Department drew Rs 24.57 crore from October 2015 to January 2016 through seven Abstract Contingent bills for purchase of materials for hot cook meals, vehicle, furniture, rice, payment of godown rent etc .
The Detailed Countersigned bills were prepared and submitted after the prescribed time period of one month .
However, the Department could not produce relevant voucher/sub-voucher/APRs etc for utilisation of the amount.
Thus the practice of submitting the DCC bills without supporting vouchers involved high risk of misappropriation, it stated .
An amount of Rs 22.49 crore was drawn for construction of 1000 Anganwadi centers and upgradation of 498 buildings during November 2015 and March 2016 through FVC bills without enclosing any sub-vouchers and other relevant documents which is a gross violation of financial rules with high risk of fraud and misappropriation, the report stated.
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