The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) (CAG) was presented in the Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday, in which financial irregularities in various government departments, misuse of money and health services have been exposed.

The report said that the bodies and authorities of the state government did not submit a large amount of utility certificate (UC), which has increased the possibility of huge irregularities in government expenses. In addition, there has been a huge shortage of staff in health services, disturbances in contingency bills and serious flaws in budgetary provisions.

1. misuse of government funds – 52,209 Utility Certificate not submitted

According to the CAG report, a grant amount of Rs 19,125.88 crore was released during the financial year 2023-24, but 52,209 Utility Certificates (UC) were not deposited by the state government bodies and authorities.

Due to this, no information was found for the purpose of which an amount of Rs 114,035.62 crore was used.

The report warned that excessive pending utility certificates increases the possibility of misuse of funds and financial irregularities.

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2. Survivors disturbances in casual bill withdrawal

During the financial year 2023-24, 8 departments of the state withdrew Rs 26.22 crore from government accounts through 30 casual bills.

Only in March 2024 was withdrawn of Rs 13.32 crore from 9 contingency bills.

No record of Rs 21.54 crore was received from 25 casual bills.

18011 contingency bills have not yet been deposited, through which a total withdrawal of Rs 4,891.72 crore was done.

3. Serious disturbances in budgetary provisions – wrong allocation of Rs 4,536.39 crore

The Jharkhand government made a wrong budgetary provision of Rs 4,536.39 crore.

Instead of the revenue section, this amount was shown in the capital section, which could not assess the expenditure correctly.

In this, Rs 4,433.60 crore was allocated for capital assets, Rs 36.27 crore for scholarship and cash relief, Rs 50 crore for assistance grant and Rs 16.52 crore for repair work.

4. Health services plight – 61% post of doctors vacant

As of March 2022, 2,210 posts of 3,634 sanctioned posts of medical officers and experts in Jharkhand were vacant, which shows a huge reduction of 61%.

Out of 5,872 sanctioned posts of Staff Nurses, 3,033 posts and 864 posts of 1,080 sanctioned posts of paramedics are lying vacant.

The detailed audit made in 6 districts (Dhanbad, Dumka, Gumla, Garhwa, Saraikela-Kharsawan and Simdega) revealed the lack of severe staff.

OPD services, ent, mental illness, orthopedics, infant diseases, general surgery and general medical services were not available in many hospitals.

5. 45% staff shortage in medical colleges

Out of 641 sanctioned posts of teaching and non-teaching employees in 6 medical colleges, 286 posts (45%) were found vacant.

65% to 95% of the essential medicines were found to be reduced.

The operation theater (OT) also saw a decrease from 48% to 67% of the equipment.

The CAG emphasized the need to implement the recommendations of the MCI (Medical Council of India) to overcome the shortage of teaching staff.