The Hindu        11.03.2011

Surprise check shows up dodgy BBMP health files

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's Standing Committee for Accounts found that the files in the office of the Chief Health Officer (CHO) were maintained poorly, during a surprise inspection on Thursday.

Procedural lapse

Committee chairperson Gangabyraiah fumed that the ledgers were no better “than notebooks of primary schoolchildren”. He said that there was a procedural lapse on part of CHO L.T. Gayathri in maintaining files, cashbook, demand draft ledger, earnest money deposit (EMD) ledger, tender issuing book and others. He also charged that the BBMP Health Department had failed to set right the lapses pointed out by the Audit Department.

“Between 1992 and 2007, the Audit Department directed the Health Department to recover Rs 14.85 crore and Rs. 52.75 lakh.

The CHO has failed to recover the amount,” he said.

Though the CHO claimed efforts were made to recover the money, the committee members were not convinced.

Medicine storeroom

Mr. Gangabyraiah found similar irregular file maintenance at the medicine storeroom at Yellamma Dasappa Hospital. Rebuking officials there, he said he would recommend to the BBMP Commissioner disciplinary action against them.

The committee members also found bed sheets and other materials strewn around.

Meanwhile, Dr. Gayathri maintained that efforts were on to recover the money and that the reports of recovery would be submitted to the committee shortly.

“I admit that the ledger maintenance was not in order but there is no misappropriation of money. There has been an acute shortage of staff in the office of CHO and despite repeated requests no action has been initiated,” she said.