How NRHM scam led to the souring of relations

LUCKNOW: The relationship between the centre and the state seemed to have touched a new low a few years ago in light of the national rural health mission (NRHM) scam. Matters came to a head in 2011 when the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) unearthed gross irregularities and mismanagement in the utilisation of ` 4,900 crore under the NRHM. And it seemed that the centre would withdraw from the centrally aided health schemes in UP.

At that time, the then BSP government led by Mayawati was at loggerheads with the centre after the CBI nabbed the then family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, a confidant of the then CM, as well as the then principal secretary, health and family welfare, Pradeep Shukla.

The souring of the state-centre relationship forced the ministry of health and family welfare to hold the release of ` 4700 crore in 2012-13.

Things changed soon. In March 2012, the Samajwadi Party won power. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav assured the central government that transparency would be maintained in the utilisation of fund and those who embezzled money would be punished. Tension eased out between the centre and the state as the state health and family welfare department sent a proposal for a 30% hike in the NRHM budget.

The NRHM governing body in its meeting held under the chairmanship of then chief secretary Javed Usmani, approved the work plan of ` 6555.50 crore for the NRHM in the new financial year. The centre was supposed to allocate 75% of the fund — ` 4918 crore. The remaining 25% — ` 1638 crore — would come from the state government.

In 2012-13, the centre allocated ` 4672.76 crore for the NRHM. Also, the then UPA government approved to all the projects proposed by the state and released the funds as well. In May 2014, when the NDA government came to power at the centre it seemed that NRHM scam would return to haunt the health department as BJP leaders had raked up corruption in government schemes during the election campaign. But the new union health and family welfare minister Harsh Vardhan brought the political temperature down by approving the state’s proposal for the National Urban Health Mission.