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Uttar Pradesh NRHM scam

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Uttar Pradesh NRHM Scam is a corruption scandal in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in which top politicians and bureaucrats are alleged to have siphoned off a massive sum (estimated at ₹10,000 crore (US$1.2 billion)[1]) from the National Rural Health Mission, a central government program meant to improve health care delivery in rural areas. At least five people are said to have been murdered in an attempt to coverup large-scale irregularities.[2][1]. Several ministers and ex-ministers of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party government in Uttar Pradesh are being investigagted by the Central Bureau of Investigation[3]. A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report blamed the state's health and family welfare department functionaries, middlemen and contractors for guzzling ₹5,700 crore (US$680 million) or 68% of the ₹8,657 crore (US$1.0 billion) released between 2005 and 2011 under the NRHM.[4]

The NRHM scam came to the limelight after two Chief Medical Officers -- the top health functionary of the state -- were successively murdered in posh localities of the state capital, Lucknow. Dr. Vinod Arya (Oct 2010) and Dr. B. P. Singh (April 2011) were shot dead in broad daylight outside their houses, by motorcycle-riding killers, using the same weapon[5]. Deputy-CMO Y.S. Sachan, who is thought to have had a role[6] in the murders, was arrested, but died mysterously in prison. Subsequently, three other functionaries who were under investigaation have also been murdered or died under suspicious circumstancess[7].

In Feb 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself accused the Mayawati government of misusing NRHM funds[1].

Sacking of ministers

In November 2011, Babu Singh Kushwaha, former Minister of Family Welfare in Mayawati's government and health minister Anant Kumar Mishra were forced to resign following media outcry after the killing of the two Chief Medical Officers remain unsolved.[8] Kushwaha was once considered a close confidant of Chief Minister Mayawati.[9] Shortly after this, the Kushwaha controversially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.[10] In July 2011, Lucknow chief medical officer (CMO) Dr A.K. Shukla was arrested on charge of embezzlement of funds under NRHM.[11]

In February 2012, Babu Singh Khushwaha was listed as one of the accused in an FIR for an NRHM-related murder, and was interrogated by the CBI[3].

As of 17 February 2012, the number of people who have died because of their alleged links to the National Rural Health Mission scam has risen to six.

  • Chief Medical Officer - On 27 October 2010, CMO Vinod Arya was murdered[12][6][4]
  • Chief Medical Officer - On 2 April 2011 another CMO B. P. Singh was shot dead from a motorcycle[12][6]
  • Deputy Chief Medical Officer - On 22 June 2011, deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Y.S. Sachan was murdered, a day before he was to depose in the court.  Sachan was an accused of the murder of Lucknow Chief Medical Officer Dr B.P. Singh, who was shot dead on 2 April.[11]
  • Project Manager - Sunil Verma a project manager for the NRHM allegedly shot himself dead in Lucknow on 23 January, 2012.[13]
  • Deputy Chief Medical Officer - Shailesh Yadav deputy Chief Medical Officer of Varanasi, who was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) in connection with the NRHM scam in Uttar Pradesh, died in what police claimed was a road accident on 15 February 2012.[14]
  • Clerk, Health department - Mahendra Sharma a clerk with the Health Department in Uttar Pradesh was found dead in Lakhimpur on 16 February 2011.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mayawati misused funds for rural health: PM". Express Buzz.
  2. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/fifth-man-dead-in-ups-rural-health-fund-scam-176980
  3. ^ a b "NRHM scam: 2 former UP ministers to appear before CBI". Indian Express. NewDelhi, India. 26 December 2011.
  4. ^ a b "UP: Death list in NRHM scam swells to five after medical officer is killed in car crash". India Today.
  5. ^ Bhupendra Pandey (Apr 07 2011). "Both Lucknow CMOs 'killed by same pistol'". Indian Express. Retrieved Apr 07 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c "Dr sachan planned BP Singh's murder says UP police". IBN Live.
  7. ^ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/up-health-scam-5th-official-found-dead-family-cries-murder/912943/2
  8. ^ "Two Uttar Pradesh minisers resign". April 7, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |pub= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help) }}
  9. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bsp-expels-ex-minister-babu-singh-kushwaha-153580
  10. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/assembly/bjp-suspends-leader-for-alleging-money-deal-between-party-and-kushwaha-165309
  11. ^ a b http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sachan-murder-case-ex-cmo-a-k-shukla-held-in-up/1/144476.html
  12. ^ a b "UP Health Scam : 5th official found dead". Indian Express.
  13. ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nrhm-case-accused-sunil-verma-shoots-himself-in-lucknow/1/170181.html
  14. ^ http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/02/16/268357-NRHM-scam-death-list-swells-to-five-.html
  15. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/fifth-man-dead-in-ups-rural-health-fund-scam-176980&cp
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