KATHMANDU, JULY 27

The 59th annual report (2020-21) recently released by the Office of the Auditor General has indicated irregularities in the Ministry of Home Affairs in its distribution of money to various persons and institutions as medical expenses and financial assistance.

The MoHA distributed around 79.9 million rupees to 19 persons and two institutions in the fiscal 2020-21. According to the OAG, the MoHA provided amounts ranging from Rs 812,000 to Rs. 2.5 million each under medical expenses.

The existing procedure related to citizens' relief, compensation and financial assistance allows the MoHA to provide a maximum of Rs 700,000 per person. Similarly, a sewa ashram and cultural development fund were provided with Rs 10 million and two million rupees in financial assistance, respectively.

'The existing provisions allow distribution of no more than Rs 700,000 each, to individuals, who have made significant contributions to the nation and public life and other needy persons, as medical expenses. Contrary to this provision and prescribed limit, the MoHA was found to have doled out amounts to the individuals in breach of the law,' reads the report.

The amount should have been disbursed to beneficiaries concerned within the prescribed limit only after verification of medical treatment and other necessary documents.

The OAG has urged the government to control embezzlement of state funds under the guise of medical expenses. The government has been urged to develop clear guidelines to ensure transparency and proper utilisation of the state fund.

Likewise, the home minister and high level officials at the MoHA have been found misusing the state fund on the pretext of maintaining law and order.

As per the 26 May 1993 decision of the Council of Ministers, there is a provision which allows the home minister and secretary to spend up to Rs 50,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively at a time for the purpose of maintaining law and order. Taking advantage of the provision and their discretionary power, the home minister and home secretary released and spent around Rs 6.2 million while the home secretary withdrew Rs 7.5 million from the state coffers in the fiscal 2020-21.

The home secretary appeared to be more extravagant compared to the minister. 'Though the existing provision allows the home minister and secretary to spend up to Rs 50,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively at a time, the law is silent on how many times the amount can be spent in a month or a year,' reads the report.

The OAG has renewed its call to the government to review the provision and prescribe weekly, monthly and annual limits on the amount that may be released and spent by the home minister and home secretary for 'peace and security'.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 28, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.