C146;garh AIDS body under CBI scanner

They claimed that the central investigating agency8217;s inquiry about the SACS was part of its ongoing probe into the complaints of irregularities and misuse of funds, which has come to light in a report of Institute of Public Auditors, a body of professionals with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India as its patron.

Earlier, the National AIDS Control Organisation NACO had also sought from the SACS a detailed report about the utilisation of funds under the HIV/AIDS control programme for which it provides about Rs 4 crore every year to the state.

8220;It8217;s the centre which has given us funds for the programme. If it seeks any report or documents, we will give it to them,8221; state Health Minister Amar Agrawal said.

Admitting that the CBI has sought certain documents related to the AIDS control society, he told The Indian Express that 8220;We have sought an opinion from the state law department on CBI8217;s request for documents as the state did not seek any probe by the central investigating agency.8221; He added 8220;It is also an issue pertaining to the powers of the Centre and the states.8221;

The Minister was evasive about the nature of complaints against the AIDS control society claiming that he was not aware how the CBI came into the picture and whether its probe was part of investigations of any particular case.

Meanwhile, health department sources said NACO had received many complaints about the alleged misuse of funds and large-scale irregularities in the SACS, particularly regarding the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. Funds were shown as spent on awareness campaigns through posters, banners, street plays, exhibitions and other cultural programmes. However, it is alleged that funds were drawn without organising exhibitions and distributing posters and leaflets. Besides, huge payments were made to a number of cultural organisations and groups, which existed only on papers.

There were also complaints regarding distribution of 5.6 lakh condoms whose expiry date was over and even purchase of huge stock of medicines by the society, which allegedly did not maintain proper records on how these drugs were utilised.

Similar is the situation in many other programmes being run by the state health department.

The issue of irregularities in state8217;s 8220;Swasthya Puran8221; 8212; a state-wide campaign to create health awareness among people 8212; figured during the question hour in the Assembly on Wednesday when Dhanendra Sahu Congress alleged that payments were made to non-existent cultural troupes. Health Minister Amar Agrawal said the department had already withheld payments to many cultural troupes and the matter was still being investigated.