Jharkhand: Dumka district administration files FIR against NGO for funds irregularities

DUMKA: The district administration has lodged an FIR against a Ranchi-based NGO — TRY — for alleged misappropriation of funds and other irregularities in managing a hospital under the social welfare department in Gando.
TRY was entrusted with the responsibility to operate the hospital in December 2020 against the payment of Rs 11.23 lah per month. It is accused of allegedly submitting fake bills to inflate the cost of running the hospital besides many other lapses.
Dumka DDC-cum-project director of the Integrated Tribal Development Authority (ITDA) Karna Satyarthi said they unearthed the fraud during a quarterly review between January and March and field inspection in April.“After subsequent probe and serving showcauses, the district administration has now initiated legal action,” he said.
Officials said TRY in its proposal to the administration, while bagging the contract for running this hospital, claimed that it had recruited specialist doctors, including a full-time paediatrician and gynaecologist.
Another official said, “Funds for their salaries were also claimed, but the surprise inspection in April exposed that none of them ever served at the hospital. The inspection team did not find the computer and other items such as physio care devices although bills were submitted to us. For physio care devices, bills to the tune of Rs 1,90,692 were submitted.”
The DDC said, “The FIR was filed on June 2 after getting a go-ahead from the deputy commissioner as the explanation given from the agency was unsatisfactory.”
TRY’s secretary Utpal Datta said, “We have already submitted our reply to the administration.”