Indian Express 07.12.2010
Showcause notice to VMC health official over fraud
Express News Service Tags : Vadodara Municipal Corporation, VMC, Reproductive and Child Health Posted: Tue Dec 07 2010, 06:24 hrs
Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has issued a show-cause notice to the head of the Family Welfare Department for financial irregularities. The matter has now been handed over to the VMC Vigilance Department for further investigation. The Family Welfare Department functions under the Health Department.Officials at the VMC’s administration department said the irregularities had cropped up in the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) wing which is functioning under the Urban Health Society of VMC. There were several instances of financial irregularities and to avoid the same in the future, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Administration) C M Makwana has asked for a vigilance inquiry.
A senior official in the Health Department said: “Dr Pratibha Patel, who is the head of the Family Welfare Department, has been asked to clarify her stand why despite formal correspondence about the payment of the Community Link Volunteers, the orders were not followed. Besides, there is a misappropriation in the number of workers and the amount paid.”
There were instructions about furnishing the documents of the visits made by the Aaanganwadi workers and supervisors working for the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Unit-2.Dr Patel was also asked to furnish the payment receipt book of visits made by ICDS workers between April and December 2009. Though it was conveyed to the officials concerned on April 2010, the same has not been followed. Besides, the work report of the medical and para-medical staff working for RCH has not been sent to Gandhinagar as per the procedure.
Makwana said: “It was necessary to go for a vigilance inquiry as we did not want to take any chances. We realised that at Tarsali Urban Health Centre, the records were not maintained properly and there were some evident financial irregularities. That is why the concerned doctor has been served with showcause notice.”
He added: “She will have to explain about specific financial transactions like stationary bills which were submitted twice; not taking the advance amount paid by the Urban Health Society in the accounts registers; delay in submitting account related documents to the chartered accountant; and other such issues.”
