Tasaduq Rashid
Srinagar, August 21 (KNS): The Audit Committee of Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bijberaha of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has come up with sensational revelations about funds particularly allocated by the administration for Covid-19 containment purpose. Though CMO Anantnag has transferred the employees involved on the recommendations of Audit Committee, they are yet to relieve from their existing place of postings by the Medical superintendent Sub District Hospital Bijebhera.
Kashmir News Service (KNS) has learnt at a time when Government of J&K is on toes to contain Covid-19 pandemic across the Valley, Some officials of Health Department are leaving no stone unturned to mint money through deceitful means.
Sources revealed that funds meant for keeping the pandemic away has been transferred into personal accounts of few health employees in SDH Bijbehara instead of depositing the amount into hospital’s institutional account.
They added few months ago, Health Department transferred lacs of rupees for containment of Covid-19 pandemic in the Sub District Hospitals and blocks but unfortunately instead of crediting the amount into the hospital’s account, it has been transferred into the personal accounts of employees which forced civil society and others to think of fishy in the department.
They said after smelling rat, an audit committee comprising of then District Health Officer Dr Tulla Sigh (now MS SDH Bijbehara), Accounts Officer and Accounts Assistant found two employees namely Ghulam Mohi-ud-din (storekeeper) and Hafeez-ullah (orderly) involved whose accounts have received lacs of rupees allocated for contesting Covid-19 pandemic.
Sources said that after the violation was brought to higher ups, the CMO Anantnag Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad ordered immediate transfer of the employees involved but unfortunately instead of joining new place of postings, they are working on their existing places and not have been relieved by their bosses.
Sources further said that hospital developmental funds are brazenly misused by the health officials. “Be it purchase of drugs or other health equipments, there is no mechanism put in place and also funds meant for Covid-19 related activities have become a source of minting money in SDH Bijbehara and adjoining blocks”, sources told.
“Same complaints have been received from adjoining blocks including Bijebhera, Kokernag Larnoo, Achabal, Dooru Shahabad, Saller and Mattan where funds meant for particular activity seems to be misused palpably”, sources added.
When KNS tried to get further details, officials didn’t utter a word and tried to put curtains over loopholes.
However, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag Dr Mukhtar while talking to KNS said that he has ordered the transfer of employees after found them involved acting against the rules. He admitted that the duo has not been relieved yet from their earlier place of postings and added that Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) has to act tough against them as per norms.
Besides mishandling of Covid-19 matters in the district, KNS has learnt that DHSK seems stagnant in transferring employees to other places who have been occupying spaces from decades.
“DHSK has failed to transfer those clerks, junior assistants and head assistants stationed from decades at one place which seems a deep nexus between lower rung employees and officials at Directorate level”, an insider told.
Notably SDH Bijbejara had always remained in headlines due to violations committed by doctors, paramedics and other associated staff. Recently Medical Superintendent of SDH Bijbehara was attached with CMO Anantnag for just one month when he issued negative certificate to a Covid-19 positive patient. Instead of any departmental actions taken against the medico, he was later on posted as District Health Officer (DHO) Anantnag which raised finger over the transparency and accountability of DHSK.
Meanwhile Civil Society Anantnag appealed Lieutenant Governor led administration to take stern action against involved employees who are looting the health sector of Valley for personal gains and leaving patient to suffer in tough times. They urged LG Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and initiate a high-level inquiry into the funds particularly meant for containment of Covid-19 pandemic. (KNS)