'Inside job' eats away food funds for Anganwadi centres
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 24 2009: In yet another manifestation of financial irregularities, a large number of cooking utensils purchased by the Department concerned for supply to anganwadi centres in the State is found to be in excess of the existing centres.

As per information collected by The Sangai Express in the course of an investigation, it came to light that cooking vessels purchased under the sanction of the Social Welfare Department for use in each of the anganwadi centres exceeded by over 3000 .

Moreover, there is strong suspicion of fraudulent withdrawal to the tune of over Rs 86 lakhs (Rs 86,49,521) as the amount had been withdrawn through submission of bill vouchers (proforma invoice) that either lacks transparency or overlooked specifications with regard to items bought.

FACE OF GREED : (L) The pot recommended by the Govt and the (R) the sub-standard pot

Nevertheless, officials concerned sanctioned the billed amount without any question.

Anganwadi centres are being established under the funding of the Central Government with its functioning in the State falling under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) of the Social Welfare Department.

for the recordm the first anganwadi centre in the State was established as a pilot project in October 1975 under Ukhrul Tribal Development Block.

Since then 34 such projects have been implemented in the State with nine of them under Community Development Block, 24 under TD Block and one under Urban Project.

Record maintained by the Department and updated upto 2007 indicate existence of 4501 anganwadi centres in total in the State where ready-to-eat food used to be supplied, which from the 2007-08 fiscal has been replaced through provision/supply of food and cooking material and the personnel/staff engaged with the formation of self help groups at the local level.

However, sanction procedures were initiated in March last year for purchase of 7642 vessels with the cooking utensil (large) used for inmates of a Lamphelpat-based rehabilitation camp as the recommended shape/size and the price quoted at Rs 1179 per piece.

As Leimapokpam based firm M/s OP Enterprises with its branch office located at Imphal's MG Avenue reportedly agreed to the rate quotation of the Government supply of the material was subsequently assigned to the Nambol sub-divisional firm.

The mode of selection of supplier was also found to be in violation of prescribed norms of the Government that clearly entails floating of tender for any quantity of Governmental purchase that exceeds the Rs 2 lakh ceiling which in the above case had not been complied with.

further investigation pointed to the possibility that the Leimapokpam firm might be managed/owned by an individual close to the Social welfare Minister.

Meanwhile, 19 sanction orders were reportedly handled by the Social Welfare Department's cashier in between March 27 and 28, 2008 for purchase/supply of 7642 vessels (with lid) at the approved rate to 4501 anganwadi centres.

having supplied the specified items the Leimapokpam firm submitted separate bills amounting to Rs 86,49,521 .

In the proforma invoice addressed to the Director with the additional insertion of item number and amount, there is no mention of either the date of purchase/supply of the items or contained information regarding acquisition of supply order and signature (s) of sanctioning authority.

even though the firm concerned had been paid the billed amount, lack of procedural transparency clearly indicates involvement of the rank and file of the Social Welfare department with the possible acknowledgement of even the Minister concerned in the entire episode.

Another clear instance of financial mismanagement detected in the course of the independent investigation pertains to disparity in the price quoted by the Government and the amount the same item (cooking vessel) could be purchased in the market.

Apart from significant variation in the quality of the vessel prescribed by the Home Department for usage at the Lamphelpat rehabilitation camp with that of the vessels supplied by the Leimapokpam firm and for which the Social Welfare Department had already released the bill, the market price of vessels meant for the anganwadi centres was found to be in the range of Rs 500-600 only.

With information culled from all possible angle/sources leading to disturbing anomalies beginning from the supply order to the quality of the vessel as well as release of bills, random visits to some anganwadi centres and information acquired further complicated the issue.

It further came to light that in sharp contrast to the excess in number of vessels purchased and for which the firm had been obliged through release of bills, only one vessel is being provided for every two anganwadi centres located in close proximity.

Workers/helpers of some Anganwadi centres when contacted also revealed that Rs 15 to 20 used to be deducted by the Department officials as 'stamp charge' when their monthly honorariums are paid.

These workers/helpers further disclosed that their honorarium for the months of January to March (2009) has not yet been released/paid till date.