Massive corruption in NHM: Funds for poor patients looted, alleges Niranjan

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 2, 2019 at 7:43 PM

Bhubaneswar: The National Health Mission has failed in Odisha to provide better health care facilities to the common people. It has lost its objective and the funds allotted for betterment of health care facilities has been misutilised and looted. As a result, the common people of Odisha have been deprived of the facilities provided in the mission. On the other hand, the Government of India is relying on the state government and no review is being done for the utilization of funds provided under NRHM. Because of this, crores of rupees is being misappropriated and looted, alleges Mr Niranjan Patnaik, President, Odisha PCC.

In a press statement he said, there are 1770 registered and 54 non registered Rogi Kalyan Samitis functioning in the state as per RTI information. They are getting certain amount of funds every year. There is a clear guide line on utilization of those funds. Samitis must give priority to SHGs (Self Help Groups) and District Industries Centers (DICs) while procuring different items, as per the NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) guide line. But as per the information collected through RTI, there is no data available with the Health Secretary and Mission Director in Odisha. To mention here, the Director has never visited any Primary Health Centre or reviewed the funds utilization during Nov. 2015 to Jan. 2017. So it is better not to say anything about the situation of KBK districts. No officials ever visit there to take stock of the situation, alleges Niranjan. Crores of rupees from NRHM funds have been looted and misutilised. State government knows everything but still remains silent.

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As per data available from RTI sources, 34 lakhs in Mayurbhanj, 73 lakh in Kendrapara, 8 lakh from ASHA Incentive funds in Gajapati etc. have been misappropriated. This has been officially mentioned in audit report and that is available with the government. Unit 4 hospital in Bhubaneswar also not left out of this corruption. But the state government is mum on this issue, and is trying to mislead the common people of Odisha with failed schemes like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

Odisha