Finance inspection report flags irregularities in 'Break the Chain' COVID campaign; action recommended against former mission chief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A finance inspection report has alleged large-scale irregularities in the implementation of the 'Break the Chain' COVID-19 campaign carried out by the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government's tenure.

The report has recommended departmental disciplinary action against Dr Mohammed Asheel, who was the Mission's Executive Director at the time. Dr Asheel, a Health Department doctor who headed the Social Security Mission, is currently on deputation with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to the report, the campaign was implemented without prior government approval or post-facto sanction. It alleges that Rs 4.88 crore was spent without proper authorisation, including Rs 4.39 crore from the Mission's administrative fund and Rs 49.79 lakh received through sponsorships.

The report also questions the bills and vouchers submitted for expenses, including those related to the purchase and distribution of sanitisers and face masks. It says complete bills were not produced for verification.

It further alleges that Rs 44.63 lakh was released as advance payments to district coordinators and others without following prescribed procedures.

The report also states that Rs 19.64 lakh was spent to set up a video conferencing facility in a 300-square-foot room at the Mission headquarters. It further alleges irregularities in the preparation of estimates and the tender process for the purchase of kiosks worth Rs 30 lakh.

Alleged irregularities in bills

The report also highlights the following issues:

• Handwritten bills were submitted along with computer-generated bills. GST details were missing in many bills.
• The basis on which payments were approved needs to be examined. Tax exemptions on several bills allegedly caused financial loss to the government. Bills unrelated to the project were also reportedly cleared for payment.

Shailaja defends the project
Former Health Minister K. K. Shailaja defended the project and said every question related to the implementation of the 'Break the Chain' campaign could be answered.

"Let any investigation take place. The project was not implemented by Dr Asheel as an individual. It was carried out by a government department with official approval. There are proper records for everything. People seem to have forgotten the challenges during the COVID period and are now questioning isolated issues," she said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said the government is examining all transactions carried out by the Health Department over the past ten years.

"The report will be ready within two weeks. We will examine the matter after that," he said.

Dr Mohammed Asheel seeks rejection of report
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Asheel has written to the Finance Secretary requesting that the inspection report be rejected.

In his letter, he said the report was prepared based on incomplete records and should not be accepted. He argued that an exemplary project that helped save around 15,000 lives was being portrayed as irregular based on technical issues.

Dr Asheel also said that during the COVID-19 emergency, the government had permitted purchases without inviting tenders and allowed advance payments of up to 90% because of the extraordinary situation. He alleged that the finance inspection team ignored those government orders. He further claimed that rejecting his written explanation as "unsatisfactory" was against the law.