RIMS to surrender over Rs 132 cr

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL March 25: With just 5 days to end the fincial year the RIMS authority headed by the in charge director will surrender over Rs 132 crore and the loss is for the entire region. Dental and Nursing students shall also suffer in man ways. But the high officials of the health ministry are not intervening as yet.

More than Rs 280 cr was sanctioned to RIMS during 2014-15. Out it Rs 144 cr was spent on payment of staff salary. The balance is for major construction works of Dental, Nursing college buildings, hostels, quarters, guest house, pre and para clinical depts, a canteen and one multi utility block near the main gate.

The RIMS authority did nothing to start the construction works although fund was released on time. Instead there is fear that the  a large chunk of fund for these major plan works had been diverted to other quick payment purchases, unnecessary repairing works and non-priority constructions. However the Dental Council of India inspectors had issued advisories for infrastructures in the last inspection. If these are not complied with the next higher class shall not be recognised.

The miracle cannot be performed within the next 5 days. In any case there is no official indication that the RIMS authority is thinking in this line. Instead some employees are said to be doing lucrative contract works. Recently some newspapers had published the scanned letter the Deputy Director (Administration) had written using the letterhead of a special contractor seeking contract works. The  matter had come to the notice of PMO and some sections are keeping fingers crossed.

It is also learned that payment to the government construction agencies have been stalled with the result that the major works are yet to start. The officials in the union health ministry have failed to check the fincial indiscipline in RIMS which is against the interest of the students of the NE region. Indications are that the Prime Minister is likely to talk with the Health Minister on the fund misuse and imminent surrender of the fund for the urgent and uvoidable construction works. The neglected people of this region in general and students in particular are entitled to an explation from the health ministry. It may be recalled that a triumvirate has been running this college of the NE region to the exclusion of other faculties. Besides some high health ministry officials have been turning a blind eye to these objectioble goings on and indications are that the PMO may pull them up since it is a very serious issue.