The Comptroller and Auditor General has pulled up the BJP-led Haryana Government for “diversion of funds” and non-achievement of 100 per cent re-enrolment of dropout girls under the ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme.
Besides, the sex ratio target of Haryana's Panipat district from where the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' (BBBP) scheme was launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could not be achieved as on March 2016, as per the latest performance audit of non-public sector undertakings for the year ending March 2016.
BBBP, a centrally sponsored scheme, was rolled out on January 22, 2015 at Panipat and the objectives of the scheme were to prevent gender-bias, sex selection elimination and ensure survival, protection, education and participation of girl child.
CAG test checked the records of the office of Director, Women and Child Development (WCD) department and three districts covering a period from January 2015 till March 2016.
According to the CAG report on social general and economic sectors (non-PSUs), Mahendragarh and Panipat were selected on the basis of lowest and highest child sex ratio and Sonepat on the basis of maximum expenditure incurred.
As per the scheme, `5 lakh were to be provided to each district through Health Department to strengthen the district pre-conception & pre-natal diagnostic technique cell, monitoring, research studies, information, education and communication activities.
The audit observed that funds of `5 lakh released by district programme officer, Panipat to civil surgeon, Panipat for the aforementioned objectives out of which `3.01 lakh were spent on preparation of 'theme gate' for the entrance at Panipat on the occasion of launching the scheme.
"Thus, the expenditure incurred on the theme gate was irregular and tantamount to diversion of funds. Further it was observed that an expenditure of `21.24 lakh was incurred (January 2015) by WCD department from funds of the scheme for the purchase of 1,800 laptop bags and 2,900 mugs,” said the report.
Also, there was no provision in the scheme for purchase of these items, said the report.
However, the department in its reply said the purchase of laptop bags and mugs was made for wide publicity of the scheme and all the material was printed with the logo 'BBBP' and it was distributed to participants from all over India.
"The reply was not convincing because purchase and distribution of laptop bags and mugs was against the provision of the scheme as the expenditure was to be incurred on innovation and awareness activities," auditor observed.
As per audit report, the guidelines provided for improving the sex ratio at birth in gender critical districts by 10 points in a year.
The report said the ratio in Panipat district was 892 against the target of 902 as of December, 2015 which further decreased to 881 in March, 2016. In district Mahendragarh, against the target of 755, achievement was 810 in December 2015 and it decreased to 787 in March 2016. However, in Sonepat, sex ratio had increased.
CAG finds deficiencies in implementation of scheme for widows, destitute women
The CAG has slammed the Haryana Government for “failing” to implement the scheme meant to provide shelter, food, clothing to young widows and destitute women in the State.
It has found “deficiencies” in the implementation of Homes for Widows and Destitute Women scheme in its audit report. The Government auditor said the deficiencies in implementation of this scheme was evident from the non-repair of buildings and poor occupancy of rooms in homes for widows and destitute women and the lack of training and education to make them self-reliant.
The CAG test checked three homes, one Mahila Ashram each in Karnal and Rohtak, and the Kasturba Seva Sadan in Faridabad. Out of the total expenditure of `7.45 crore incurred by three homes, an expenditure of `6.50 crore was incurred on pay and allowances of staff during 2011-2016 while only an amount of `95 lakh was spent on these homes, the Auditor stated.
The report said the Women and Children Development Department had not conducted any survey to identify beneficiaries of the scheme in the districts.
“No assessment of requirement has been carried out nor new homes have been constructed so far in the other 18 districts of the State. Admission in Kasturba Sewa Sadan has also been stopped since June 2016,” the report said.
Poor implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
CAG has found that house hold survey was not conducted for identification of children of the age group of 6 to 14 years in test-checked schools. Hence, the calculation of number of children that had to be covered was based only on estimation.
Also, there were deficiencies in providing basic facilities such as rooms, drinking water, kitchen sheds, toilets, desks, library and play ground in test-checked schools. There was delay in providing text books, uniform, stationery and bags to students.
In contravention of the Act, 514 to 821 unrecognised schools were functioning in the state during 2011-16.
Discrepancies in working of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board
CAG has pointed out that surplus funds were kept in savings bank accounts instead of in fixed deposits resulting in loss of interest of `6 crore. Also, an amount of `126.44 crore was outstanding on account of interest on loan, godown rent, water and sewerage charges, cost of shop/booth sites/land and enhanced land compensation in the Board.
Basic infrastructure facilities such as boundary walls, weighbridges at entry point, check-post, canteen and dormitory were not provided in 38 Market Committees in the state. Apart from this, plots were allotted to ineligible licensees on reserve price resulting in loss of `1.82 crore, CAG stated.
Three schemes aimed at promotion of agricultural innovations and research and development were not implemented though funds were available, said the report.
Non-deposit of interest amount in Govt. account
Haryana State Council for Science and Technology had withdrawn `14.66 crore without ensuring the basic requirements for setting up of Science City in contravention of codal provisions and financial propriety. However, interest earned amounting to `10.37 crore by the Council has not been deposited in the Government account.
Non-recovery of unearned increase in value of land
leasing out of land without assessing the unearned increase in value of land as per regulations by the Haryana Urban Development Authority led to non-deposit of `417.15 crore. Besides, annual ground rent of `8.07 crore and interest of `2.70 crore remained unrecovered by Town and Country Planning Department.