AIDS control programme in Bihar a total failure

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AIDS control programme in Bihar a total failure

The Times of India News Service

PATNA: Audit scrutiny of the implementation of the National AIDS Control

Programme (NACP) in Bihar between 1996 and 2001 has revealed a shortfall

of 20 to 100 per cent in achievement.

The State AIDS Control Society, the implementing agency of the NACP in Bihar,

failed to identify even a single person suffering from AIDS or carrying HIV

among the high risk groups through non-government organisations (NGOs) during

the period 1999-2001 although the target was 1,13,500 persons, making it a

shortfall of 100 per cent.

During the same period the Society could open only two licensed blood banks in

the district hospitals against a target of five. Similarly, none of the blood

banks located in the medical colleges could be upgraded, the audit inspection

report said. Neither could the Society supply any medicine to the AIDS patients

admitted in different medical college hospitals of the state, again making it a

shortfall of 100 per cent.

In the inspection report (IR) sent to the health department, the accountant

general (AG) has maintained that the State AIDS Control Society did not appear

to be serious in making the NACP a success in Bihar defeating the very purpose

of the scheme launched by the Centre. No reason for the shortfall was furnished

to the audit team.

The report said that the whereabouts of Rs 17 lakh released by the state

government to the State AIDS Control Cell during 1994-95 could not be traced

during audit as no cash book and other relevant records were made available to

it.

The National AIDS Control Programme was implemented in Bihar through the State

AIDS Control Cell from 1992 to June 1998 and thereafter it is being implemented

by the State AIDS Control Society constituted in July 1998. The fund mentioned

above was not transffered to the AIDS Control Society by the cell.

The test check of records also revealed that although the Centre had released Rs

2.89 crore to the state government between 1992 and June 1998 for the

implementation of the NACP, the state finance department released only Rs 73

lakh to the AIDS Control Cell during the period and the balance Rs 2.16 crore

were released to the Society in March 1999 after a lapse of one to seven years.

The AIDS cell is yet to be disbanded by the government even as the Society was

formed three years ago. A senior functionary of the Society said that the cell

could be disbanded only by a Cabinet decision.

Similarly, according to the audit scrutiny, an advance of Rs 23.71 lakh made to

various officers, staff and implementing agencies during 1993-96 was neither

adjusted nor recovered from them and transferrerd to the Society till June 2001.

The audit team could not examine an expenditure of Rs 29.91 lakh from 1996 to

June 1998 due to non-availability of records.

Test check of records of 21 implementing agencies including districts indicated

that out of the Rs 1.39 crore released to them between July 1998 and March 2001

by the society, these agencies could spend Rs 86.42 lakh only and the unspent

amount was lying in current accounts in bank. The reasons for the

non-utilisation of the funds were not furnished to the AG till June 2001.

Regarding the claim of an expenditure of Rs 3.23 crore incurred by the AIDS Cell

and AIDS Society between 1996 and 2001, the IR said that the government was yet

to seek reimbursement of the same from the World Bank through the Centre.

Rajesh M.Buddhadev MD

buddhadev@...

Nisarg Skin,Cosmetology,Allergy,AIDS & Dermatosurgery center

3-b Shashi Tower,Adajan Patia,Rander Road,SURAT-395009

Phone:(Kindly take a note of New telephone numbers from 1st July 2001)

0261- 2685685 & 2685682(Clinic)