Minister assures fitting action
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10:
Health Minister Gaikhangam today assured the House that fitting action would be taken up against anyone found misappropriating the sum of Rs 88 lakhs set aside for procuring Malaria medicines.
Responding to a call attention motion raised jointly by O Joy and Th Shyamkumar of the MPP, Gaikhangam said that an FIR has been lodged with the police and investigation is on.
Following reports that there were some discrepancies in the medicines stocked at the Store of the Malaria office at Lamphel, the Government committee of officers to conduct a physical verification to establish the veracity of the report, said the Health Minister.
Subsequently a four member committee headed by the State Health Director was formed and during a physical verification of the Store, it was found that medicines and other items worth Rs 88 lakhs missing.
The medicines and other items were to be kept there from October last year till March this year.
It is yet to be ascertained whether the missing items were procured and deposited at the Store or were taken on the sly from the Store itself.
The amount for the said items was released under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, said the Health Minister and added that one L Medha Singh, Upper Division Clerk was in charge of the Malaria store.
An FIR has been lodged with the police by the Health Director and investigation is on, said Gaikhangam and added that relevant documents are in the custody of the police.
Moving his motion, Joy said that there had been numerous similar cases in the Health Department, particularly its stores.
Citing provisions of the general financial rule which says that store item and its account should be handled by a subordinate authority, Joy questioned why the Health Dept was dealing with these matter.
Supporting Joy's motion, Shyamkumar said that since the Minister concerned had not taken proactive role in cracking the case he (Minister) may have had an interest in the misappropriated amount.
The MLA also pointed out that the Malaria Eradication Programme has not reached rural areas including his Andro AC in greater Imphal East.