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Rahul visits NRHM office in UP, brings into focus irregularities
The Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched his party’s major offensive against Mayawati government bringing into focus the financial irregularities in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and saying that the murder of two chief medical officers (family welfare) here was a cause of concern.
The Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched his party’s major offensive against Mayawati government bringing into focus the financial irregularities in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and saying that the murder of two chief medical officers (family welfare) here was a cause of concern.
Rahul took a detour from his brief visit to Rae Bareli on Wednesday and reached the NRHM office here to be instrumental in seeking information from the state government about the use of funds under NRHM and the Janani Suraksha Yojana and other central schemes.
“Under the NRHM there is gross misappropriation of funds. We have asked many questions,” said Rahul while speaking to media persons after coming out of the NRHM office at the Vidhan Sabha Marg in Lucknow.
As the misuse of funds under the NRHM and other schemes is being stated to be a factor behind the murder of two CMOs much significance is being attached to Rahul’s decision to reach the NRHM office. “The Centre is sending the funds. Where are these funds going and how are they being used,” said Rahul.
Asked about the murder of the two CMOs Rahul said “that is a cause of concern. That is why we have filed the petitions under the Right to Information Act,” he said.
Rahul reached the NRHM office at about 3 pm. Public Information Officer Anil Kumar Mishra was out of office to attend a meeting at secretariat annexe. Mishra rushed to NRHM office where Rahul had been waiting for nearly 15 minutes.
“Joshi gave me two pages of request under the RTI. I requested Rahul to speak to the Mission Director. But Rahul had to leave early. So, I received the applications and gave a receipt,” said Mishra while speaking to media persons.
Under the two applications (total 17 questions) submitted to Mishra UPCC president has sought the details about the district wise fund allocations the expenditure incurred under the NRHM and other schemes in the past five years from 2005-2006 to 2009-2009-2010. Joshi has sought a list of beneficiaries and data about institutional deliveries, home deliveries, emergency deliveries and total deliveries from 2005-2006 to 2010-2011. She has also sought information about the release and expenditure incurred under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
After visiting the NRHM office Rahul rushed straight to the slain CMO BP Singh’s residence. The slain CMO’s brother IP Singh said Rahul had assured all the support for the family for a CBI inquiry. Singh said Rahul’s visit had given the family added confidence. “Rahul is a great leader. Now we feel that we are not alone. Entire country is with us,” said Singh.
