States wasted NRHM funds

The status report on the performance of the first phase of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) published by the Centre says that Kerala has not utilized an amount of Rs 408.90 crore out of the Rs 1682.27 crore sanctioned.

The worst phase of the NRHM fund uitlization in the state was during the period between 2006 and 2009 as per the status report. During 2006-07, the state did not utilize Rs 119.36 crore, in 2007-08, Rs.269.18 crore and during 2008-09, Rs.160.86 crore.

The state was sanctioned a fund of Rs 110.08 crore in 2005-06, Rs 151.40 crore in 2006-07, Rs 293.85 crore in 2007-08, Rs 222.88 crore in 2008-09, Rs 237.61 crore in 2009-10, Rs 253.42 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 413 crore in 2011-12.

A total of Rs 1682.27 crore was sanctioned by the government under NRHM to Kerala in seven years. The state has not utilized more funds meant for augmenting the facilities of hospitals, community monitoring and new initiatives to be implemented in the health sector of the state. The state wasted Rs 144.63 crore in 2007-08 which was allotted for this purpose. In 2006-07 it wasted Rs 69.34 crore and in 2008-09 it did not utilize Rs 68.7 crore.

It is not just Kerala that has wasted the funds. Andhra Pradesh made a similar lapse to the tune of Rs 576.94 crore, Punjab, Rs 504.59 crore, Tamil Nadu, Rs 565.95 crore and West Bengal is the worst, with Rs 1480.01 crore unspent amount in seven years. These states come under the non-high focus category of the NRHM. Only states like Gujarat and Karnataka have been successful in utilizing the entire amount sanctioned by the Centre.source:http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-24/thiruvananthapuram/32827138_1_nrhm-national-rural-health-mission-status-report