IMPHAL, October 26: Report No 1 of 2015 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed gross financial mismanagement in the State`™s Veterinary & Animal Husbandry (Vety & AH) Department.
An amount of Rs 47.32 lakhs meant for 756 officials utilized/engaged in the Nineteenth Quinquennial Livestock Census, 2012 had been transferred to the Bank Account of Deputy Director (Statistics).
According to the CAG Report, livestock rearing is one of the most important economic activities in rural areas of the country providing supplementary income for most of the families dependent on agriculture. It is a source of nutrition in the form of milk, eggs and meat.
The livestock census conducted once in every five years is the main source of such Data in the country. It is conducted as a fully funded central sector scheme and is implemented through the Animal Husbandry Department of the respective State and Union Territory.
The Nineteenth Quinquennial Livestock Census 2012 should be conducted in 100 percent villages and wards in all the Districts of the State.
As in population census, primary workers undertake house to house enumeration and ascertain the number, age, sex etc of livestock and Poultry possessed by every household and institution in rural and urban areas.
The Nineteenth Quinquennial Livestock Census, 2012 was to be conducted with reference date October 15, 2012, commencing from September 15, 2012 and to be completed by October 15, 2012.
Various species of animals and poultry birds possessed by households, enterprises and institutions were to be counted at their site.
The Ministry released (2012-2014) Rs 119.62 lakhs including revalidated amount of Rs 1.62 lakhs for census.
The department could utilise Rs 116.97 lakhs during 2012-2014. Even after lapse of two years from the stipulated date of completion of the census, the final census report could not be made available to audit. In the absence of the census report audit could not ascertain status of all round development of the livestock in the State.
The Department drew Rs 47.32 lakhs in March 2013 and February 2014 for payment of TA/DA/Honorarium of 756 officers and officials (624 Enumerators, 106 Supervisors, 21 Scrutiny Officers and Five State Level Livestock Census Officers) for counting the Nineteenth Quinquennial Livestock Census.
Instead of disbursement of the withdrawn amount to the concerned officers and officials, the amount was transferred electronically to the Bank Account of the Deputy Director (Statistics) of the veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department APRs of the concerned officers and officials were not available.
During the exit conference, the Department stated (October 2014) that TA/DA was disbursed through the District Census Officer. APRs were submitted for receipt of money by the concerned District Census Officers.
However, APRs for distribution of TA/DA/Honorarium to the concerned Officers/Officials who had conducted census could not be produced to audit. Thus, disbursement of TA/DA/Honorarium of Rs 47.32 lakhs was doubtful.