National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in State of U.P. and the CBI Inquiry

Corruption in Society has become the order of the day. It has become a kind of an expected habit when you read the news paper in the morning that you are going to confront some news about some corruption or scam. Recently in Uttar Pradesh implementation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), State of U.P. , gross abuse and misappropriation of NRHM funds by State Functionaries in a planned and concerted manner was alleged and the said issue came up before the Hon’ble Allahabad High court, Lucknow Bench in the case of Sachidanand (Sachchey) Vs. State of U.P. & Others by its judgment and order dated: 15th November 2011 passed in Writ Petition Nos. 3611, 3301 and 2647 (M/B) of 2011 (PIL).
The history and the working of the NRHM having been traced in detail by the Hon’ble High Court and factually having noticed that between the years 2005 and 2011 Central Government had released to the State of U.P. grants amounting to Rs. 8,579.38 crores and there have been gross irregularities in following the rules of procedure and misappropriation of funds relating to purchasing the medical kits; medicines; Equipments and other articles and the works were routed through government corporations, i.e. U.P. Project Corporation Limited; U.P. Jal Nigam Limited; U.P. Processing and Construction Cooperative Federation Ltd (PACCFED). Further example given by the Petitoner as reported in TOI ; that Rs. 270/- was being paid for 500 Ml. of Iodine Solution whereas the approved rate contract was of Rs. 39.5 for 500 Ml. The sterilized surgical gloves which cost Rs. 8.50. As per the Director General, supplies and disposables were being procured @ Rs. 34/- per pair. A common liquid hand wash for which the rate contract of the State Government is Rs. 104/- for 1000 Ml was being procured @ Rs. 450/- for 200 Ml. Another example is Iron Folic Acid Tablets that were being procured from other States and Union Health Ministry @ Rs. 10 – 14/- for 100 tablets while the State paid Rs. 18/- per 10 tablets. It was also submitted before the Hon’ble Court that capricious decisions were taken in the Executive Committee Meeting in choosing the agencies to get the required works done. Unfortunate murders of two C.M.O.s namely, Dr. V.K. Arya and Dr. V.P. Singh admittedly relating to the abuse of NRHM funds, demonstrated the gravity of the situation and therefore a clear case for enquiry by CBI was made out.(as argued by the petitioner)
Keeping in view the various facets of the issue and taking into consideration the arguments of all the concerned parties together with various observations of various expert reports; the view of the Finance Team of the Central Government for the respective years the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court was been pleased to direct the Director, CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry in the matter of execution and implementation of the NRHM and utilization of funds at various levels during such implementation in the entire State of U.P. and register regular case in respect of persons against whom prima facie cognizable offence is made out and proceed in accordance with law. The enquiry is to be conducted and completed within a period of 4 months and the State Government has been directed to hand over and make available all the records as may be required by the CBI and render full support and cooperation to CBI.