An audit by the Chief Financial Officer of the National Health Mission (NHM) in the State has found “gross irregularities” in the functioning of Karnataka State Health System Resource Centre (KSHSRC). It has recommended, among other things, that ₹14.49 lakh be recovered from the centre’s executive director, holding her responsible for the irregularities.
The audit, conducted following the directions of Arun Kumar Jha, Economic Advisor to the Union Health Ministry, found that S.M. Sadhana, the executive director, had drawn a salary of ₹9.21 lakh in excess of the amount approved in the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) of NHM.
Although a pay hike of 10% had been approved in the PIP for 2013-14 and a subsequent hike of 5% in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, the executive director had been drawing 10% excess all along.
CFO Manjunath Swamy, in his audit, has recommended that the official, who is a contract employee, be replaced with a regular cadre employee on deputation. “She has been claiming service tax in the remuneration bill every month and hence, her service is consultancy in nature,” the audit report stated. KSHSRC is a centre of excellence for facilitating effective strengthening of the National Health Mission.
The audit findings also revealed that Ms. Sadhana had got four other employees at the centre an excess payment of ₹5.26 lakh. Although there is no provision to pay incentives to employees at the institution, the personal assistant to the executive director, two consultants and a coordinator (all on contract) were paid excess salaries in the form of incentives, the audit said. That apart, the audit found that the official had diverted ₹23.14 lakh unspent NHM grants to the account of KSHSRC. The task of conducting a public health survey at a cost of ₹10 lakh to study 24/7 primary health centres was entrusted to NGO Vivekananda Youth Movement without calling for tenders. Tenders were also not called for a sensitisation programme conducted at a cost of ₹24.71 lakh for elected representatives, the audit report said.
Following the audit, NHM mission director Rathan U. Kelkar issued a notice to Ms. Sadhana. “She has replied to the notice and we are examining the matter,” he said. The Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) told The Hindu that the audit findings and the executive director’s explanation have been referred to the Chief Vigilance Officer.
Denying the charges, Ms. Sadhana said all finances of the centre were approved by the governing council of KSHSRC. “Ours is a registered autonomous society and all accounts are transparent. I have replied to the notice giving an explanation for every charge. This is being done to tarnish my image by those eyeing the post,” she said.
