Dimapur | June 3 : The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s fourth-Common Review Mission (CRM) has completed it study on Nagaland state’s performance in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Among various other issues and observations, the elaborate report of the CRM has highlighted uncomfortable observations particularly about financial administration, audit and fiscal management in the state. The lack of fund-monitoring systems and proper accounts maintenance and misuse of funds was also mentioned in the report.
The Centre’s team of the fourth-Common Review Mission was in Nagaland in December 2010 as part of a nationwide review to assess the progress of NRHM in the states implementing the rural health project. Aside from details about infrastructure, administrative summaries, setups and logistics, the CRM’s report offered critical observations concerning Nagaland-NHRM’s financial management and monitoring ‘at state/district level.’
The report is also available on the internet.
On the subject of financial management, the CRM gave ‘key observations’ at the ‘state/district level,’ exposing a substantial number of loopholes, lack and other similar prickly areas. The report even mentioned vacancies of key finance-administrative posts including the all-important Director (Finance) and District Accounts Manager; current audit reports not being sent to the ministry of Health ‘on quarterly basis’ and lack of monitoring of funds. During the time of filing this news report confirmation whether the posts are currently occupied, could not be obtained from the state government.
According to the observations of the CRM, the post of state-level Director (finance) is vacant as is with the posts of District Accounts Manager of Zunheboto and Mokokchung district. Even more serious, the report said no separate government orders are issued for delegation of financial powers, the report said. In addition, there is no ‘proper age-wise’ advance monitoring ‘from the state level’, the report said.
“Summery of concurrent audit report is not being sent to GoI (Government of India), Ministry of Health on quarterly basis; state organized only 2 Accounts training for District Accounts Manager; accounts training were not provided to CHC/PHC (Community Health Center/Primary Health Center) at district level.
(There are) no proper advance control and monitoring system exists in district level; lack of communication amongst the district and block-level officers,” the key observations stated.
Further, the report said, there is lack of monitoring of funds transferred to CHCs, PHCs, SHC and VHSC level and no proper accounts books are being maintained. Likewise, no Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) payment register is maintained; Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) funds are not being audited by the chartered accountant firm’ and no bank reconciliation statement is prepared, the report said.
The CRM’s observations for the CHC/PHC and Sub Health Center level were similar. No proper account books are maintained at the level; no JSY payment register is being maintained; no accounts training to block-level officers; lack of coordination between the SHC and block level, the CRM reports said.
The report also mentioned substantial delay in payment of JSY, pending cases of payment in JSY at Akuluto CHC and JSY payments not being recorded in cashbooks.
The Centre’s team of the fourth-Common Review Mission was in Nagaland in December 2010 as part of a nationwide review to assess the progress of NRHM in the states implementing the rural health project. Aside from details about infrastructure, administrative summaries, setups and logistics, the CRM’s report offered critical observations concerning Nagaland-NHRM’s financial management and monitoring ‘at state/district level.’
The report is also available on the internet.
On the subject of financial management, the CRM gave ‘key observations’ at the ‘state/district level,’ exposing a substantial number of loopholes, lack and other similar prickly areas. The report even mentioned vacancies of key finance-administrative posts including the all-important Director (Finance) and District Accounts Manager; current audit reports not being sent to the ministry of Health ‘on quarterly basis’ and lack of monitoring of funds. During the time of filing this news report confirmation whether the posts are currently occupied, could not be obtained from the state government.
According to the observations of the CRM, the post of state-level Director (finance) is vacant as is with the posts of District Accounts Manager of Zunheboto and Mokokchung district. Even more serious, the report said no separate government orders are issued for delegation of financial powers, the report said. In addition, there is no ‘proper age-wise’ advance monitoring ‘from the state level’, the report said.
“Summery of concurrent audit report is not being sent to GoI (Government of India), Ministry of Health on quarterly basis; state organized only 2 Accounts training for District Accounts Manager; accounts training were not provided to CHC/PHC (Community Health Center/Primary Health Center) at district level.
(There are) no proper advance control and monitoring system exists in district level; lack of communication amongst the district and block-level officers,” the key observations stated.
Further, the report said, there is lack of monitoring of funds transferred to CHCs, PHCs, SHC and VHSC level and no proper accounts books are being maintained. Likewise, no Janani Suraksha Yojna (JSY) payment register is maintained; Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) funds are not being audited by the chartered accountant firm’ and no bank reconciliation statement is prepared, the report said.
The CRM’s observations for the CHC/PHC and Sub Health Center level were similar. No proper account books are maintained at the level; no JSY payment register is being maintained; no accounts training to block-level officers; lack of coordination between the SHC and block level, the CRM reports said.
The report also mentioned substantial delay in payment of JSY, pending cases of payment in JSY at Akuluto CHC and JSY payments not being recorded in cashbooks.
