Tweet
CBI registers five preliminary enquiries in UP NRHM scam
The CBI on Saturday registered five preliminary enquiries to probe into the alleged irregularities in spending Rs 10,000 crore allocated to Uttar Pradesh as Central funds under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) from inception of the scheme in 2005-06 till date.
The CBI's move follows a direction from the Allahabad High Court on November 15. Nevertheless, it comes at a time when the Congress and the Centre have continued to up the ante against the Mayawati Government in view of the impending crucial Assembly elections in the State.
The agency has constituted a special investigation team comprising 26 officers, including five Superintendents of Police under the overall supervision of Additional Director, Joint Director and two DIGs.
"The investigation team will be assisted by experts from banking, accountancy, engineering works and computer forensics and officers dealing with NRHM scheme in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India," a CBI spokesperson said here.
The probe pertains to civil works' contracts and medicine procurement of Family Welfare Directorate, Medical Health Directorate, Director Training, State Health Society, State Innovation in Family Planning and Project Agency (SIFPSA), IEC Bureau, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, UNOPS and others besides funds allocated to Chief Medical Officers of 72 districts of the State.
The CBI spokesperson said the NRHM funds to the tune of about Rs 10,000 crore were allocated to Uttar Pradesh for the period 2005-06 till date by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
These funds were spent under various Central government schemes by the 72 chief medical officers and other nodal officers involving a large number of beneficiaries.
"A number of these works have been executed through several state PSUs and large number of contractors/firms. The CBI has been asked to complete these enquiries in four months by the Hon'ble Allahabad High Court," the official said.
The Court had directed the state government to hand over and make available all records that might be required by the CBI and render full support and cooperation to the agency.
The Central government was also directed to render full support that might be required for the probe.
In its order, the bench had observed considering the facts and circumstances of the present case, it was painful to see that a scheme meant for providing quality health services had taken the lives of three CMOs.
