Pilibhit CMS accused of misusing Rs 18 lakh in govt funds

Pilibhit: District magistrate Sanjay Kumar sent a report to the state govt on Tuesday evening, accusing Dr. Rajesh Kumar, the chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the District Women's Hospital, of misusing Rs 18 lakh in govt funds.The money came from two awards under the National Health Mission's ‘Kaya Kalp Award' scheme in 2021-22. The report was prompted by a district-level investigation led by chief medical officer (CMO) Dr. Alok Kumar and ADM (Judicial) Ajit Paresh.The hospital won Rs 8 lakh under the ‘Kaya Kalp Award' category and Rs 10 lakh for being eco-friendly. The previous CMS, Dr. Anita Chaurasia, had spent 25% of the prize money on celebrations, as per guidelines. However, Dr. Rajesh Kumar allegedly held a lavish, unauthorised event at a hotel, spending the prize funds inappropriately.The CMO said the eco-friendly award money should have been used for hospital improvements, such as solar panel installation, rainwater harvesting, and biomedical waste management. He also outlined the guidelines for the ‘Kaya Kalp Award' Award, which include spending 25% on celebrations, 5% on certificates, and the remainder on staff incentives, training, and infrastructure improvements.The inquiry also revealed that Dr. Rajesh Kumar had been stationed in Pilibhit for 22 years, violating the 7-year maximum posting rule. Additionally, a team led by ADM Ritu Punia, along with the pollution control board, raised concerns about the hospital's poor sanitation and inoperative lifts, which force pregnant women to use the stairs.Despite warnings, conditions at the hospital, including its toilets and waste disposal practices, have not improved. The CMO sent a letter on Sept 5 to the principal of Pilibhit's autonomous state medical college, Dr. Sangeeta Anjeja, urging better biomedical waste management, but no action has been taken yet.