CBI begins probe into NRHM scam in UP

The officials gathered at the state government bungalow at Dalibagh in Lucknow where another CBI team,which is already probing two cases of fraud in the Lucknow NRHM on the high court’s order,had set up office in August.

Documents related to funds released to UP under various NRHM schemes collected from the Union Ministry of Health and the CAG were given to the five teams.

A letter has been sent to the directorates of Health and Family Welfare of UP,asking for all files related to the funds received from the Centre under NRHM since 2005-06 and the details of utilisation,sources said.

A CBI official said that the team probing the two cases in Lucknow NRHM also has some documents related to the purchase of medicines and equipment,and construction of community health centres in six districts in Lucknow range: Lucknow,Rae Bareli,Unnao,Sitapur,Hardoi and Lakhimpur Kheri.

He said they had divided the work into five separate subjects,each allotted to a team. These include utilisation of NRHM funds,role of the successive directors and the staff concerned at the Directorates of Health & Family Welfare,misuse of funds and negligence by officials in purchase of the medicines and the medical equipment,irregularities in construction of community health centres,and the role of the minister,principal secretary and the secretary.

The role of NGOs,private firms and contractors who got work under various NRHM schemes through PSUs,government institutions and co-operative bodies will also be examined.

The five teams engaged in the inquiry include one from Delhi,two from Jharkhand and one each from Lucknow and Dehradun.