Accusations of diverting healthcare funds

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 25, 2015: Members of the district unit of Federation of Koraga Development Associations has opposed the alleged diversion of funds reserved for healthcare treatment of members of Koraga community for purchasing three vehicles for three Primary Health Centres.

Susheela Nada, Convener of district unit of the Federation, told reporters here on Oct 24, Saturday the Koraga community was one of the 75 primitive tribes in the country. Hence, the government had provided a special grant of Rs. 63 lakh for the healthcare needs of the Koraga community, a Scheduled Tribe, under the Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub Plan for the 2012-13.

This grant was provided so that deserving cases within the Koraga community could get treatment in private hospitals if necessary in the taluk headquarters of Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala. However, the district administration had used this amount to purchase three vehicles for the PHCs of Perdoor, Vandse and Byndoor. The district administration could not divert government funds in this manner from one purpose to another.

This grant was important as members of the Koraga community were prone to health problems. Though the Federation had lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner R. Vishal and the Udupi District Incharge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, no action had been taken on this issue.

The Federation would stage a day-and-night dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here to protest over this issue from October 26 to November 1.