Imphal, April 01: Two District Immunisation Officers are likely to face the heat of the Vigilance Department with the latter having recommended to the State Government for taking up strict action against the duo in connection with alleged diversion of over Rs 1 crore meant for implementation of National Population Control programme to a particular underground organisation.

Following strong instruction from the then Governor, the Vigilance Department had conducted a probe into the alleged fund diversion, said a reliable source while informing that the incident dates back to the time when the current MANITRON Chairman Bijoy Koijam was the Family Welfare Minister in the SPF Government.

After a thorough investigation into the matter, the Vigilance Department has recommended to the State Government for awarding major penalty even to the extend of taking up criminal cases against the two accused Immunisation Officers, disclosed the source.

During the course of the investigation, it was found out that the District Immunisation Officers of Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts were allegedly involved in misusing the Central fund, the source said.

Elaborating on the findings of the anti-corruption department, the source said for executing the National Population Control programme, funded by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an amount of Rs 50 lakhs each was released to District Immunisation Officer, Ukhrul Dr Wilson and District Immunisation Officer, Tamenglong district Dr Namjupao.

But the fund were not utilised for development of the required infrastructures for implementing the said programme nor in taking up public awareness campaign in the two districts, the source added.

Out of the total Central sponsored projects malpractices could be detected during the investigation pertaining to proposed constructions of maternity huts in the said districts clubbed under the Infrastructure Development.

Despite clear instructions for construction of the special maternity huts within the estimated amount the same was found to be inadequately implemented.

Another major blunder committed by the accused officers pertains to violation of guidelines for extensive awareness campaigns contrary to which only a few wall posters were put up, unearthed the probe.

Even though funds of the Centrally sponsored projects were released to the State Government the programme implementations were to be carried out by concerned district authorities, added the source.

To a question, the source suggested that two officers are likely to be suspended from their service acting on the recommendation of the Vigilance.

However, when The Sangai Express contacted the Family Welfare Department, it was learnt that no such action has been taken against the two guilty officers so far.

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