Free laptops: CAG punches holes, says excessively funded yet short of target

The CAG report, tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, also said the Akhilesh Yadav-led government overstepped the limit in expenditure for holding functions to distribute the laptops.

The Directorate of Secondary Education in March 2012 had estimated 18.90 lakh students of Class XII for distribution of laptops, said the CAG report related to general and social sector spendings for the last fiscal year (ending March 31 2014).

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Against total 14.91 lakh applications, the state government invited global tender for procurement of 15 lakh laptops.

HP Sales India Limited supplied 14.81 lakh laptops for Rs 2,822.71 crore, however, only 14.35 lakh laptops were distributed. In physical inspection of four districts, it was found the supply fell short by 215 laptops and that 52 laptops were stolen/looted in Allahabad, the report said.

The budgetary allocation for laptops was Rs 4,836.83 crore in two years (2012-14), while the expenditure was only Rs 3419.72 crore.

While administrative expenditure of Rs 1.50 crore was allowed for the laptop distribution functions attended by the CM, Rs 7.47 crore was spent on three such events, the report pointed out. It also said Rs 7.82 crore was spent on such events in six districts against the allotment of Rs 1.57 crore.

The CAG also said the government did not undertake the mandatory verification of five per cent beneficiaries after the distribution of laptops. There was an improper poor monitoring by authorities.

The national auditor also ticked off the SP government for abandoning free tablets scheme for Class X-pass students, despite budgetary allocation of Rs 604.78 crore in two years.

The government ended up spending Rs 60.06 lakh on the scheme that did not see the light of the day.

The other key findings

* Combined Pre Medical Test: Five hundred and forty nine ineligible candidates were allowed to take the CPMT-2013. In CPMT-2011, biometric system was not implemented and all confidential test related records were weeded out within six months from the date of declaration of the results. In 2011, as many as 34 seats remained vacant due to impersonation of candidates. Universities responsible for holding the test also did not transfer money to CPMT fund and witheld Rs 150.90 lakh. Expenditure of Rs 50.99 lakh was incurred on activites not related with conduct of the test. Honorarium of Rs 7.59 lakh was paid to ineligible employees.

* Flood Control: Against the budgetary provision of Rs 3.938.11 crore, only Rs 2452.17 crore (62 per cent) was spent. Only 341 out of 805 approved projects were taken up.

* Agriculture Universities in Faizabad and Meerut: Four courses running in four constituent colleges of the Faizabad University were not approved by the chancellor of the university. No research activities were taken up at Crop Research Stations. Rs 963.33 crore was spent during 2009-14, but the universities did not maintained main cash book and not reconciled its balances with banks.

* Home Department: Fradulent disbursal of pay and pay arrears of Rs 21.93 lakh. In 2010, 0.97 lakh was deposited in four fictitious names while disbursing pay arrears. In March 2011, Rs 2.73 lakh was credited twice in the bank accounts of seven employees. During February 2011-2012, pay arrears amounting to Rs 17.05 lakh was drawn in respect of 36 employees by crediting the money two to six times in nine bank accounts.