CAG finds Madhya Pradesh missed nominating mental health authority members

This audit examined the compliance and functioning of the Public Health and Medical Education Department, Higher Education Department, and Panchayat and Rural Development Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh for the period ended March 2024.

Who it concerns: Government of Madhya Pradesh (specifically the Public Health and Medical Education Department, Higher Education Department, and Panchayat and Rural Development Department).

What the auditor found

• Audit on the functioning of Mental Healthcare Establishments in the State.
• Audit on the functioning of Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
• Audit of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission.
• Findings include delays in registration of Mental Healthcare Establishments (MHEs) beyond stipulated 10 days.
• Findings include delays in publication of information of MHEs beyond the 45-day period prescribed by the MH Act, 2017.
• Findings include non-availability of essential medicines in test-checked MHEs during 2021-24.
• Findings include non-availability of minimum required equipment in selected Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) during 2021-24.
• Findings include vacancies in posts in GMCs as of March 2024.
• Findings include delays in granting affiliation by Jiwaji University to colleges.
• Findings include colleges granted conditional affiliation repeatedly by Jiwaji University.
• Findings include delays in conducting examinations and declaration of results.
• Findings include underutilization of funds under different heads in Jiwaji University.
• Findings include variations between ICAP and DPR in clusters under the Rurban Mission.
• Findings include works costing more than ₹5.00 lakh in selected clusters under the Rurban Mission.

Also in the document

• CAG noted that the State Government had not nominated members of the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) as per Section 46 of the MH Act, 2017, as detailed in Appendix 2.1.2.
• CAG reported that awareness seminars were not organized in certain districts, as listed in Appendix 2.1.7.
• CAG identified that some calls were disconnected within the prescribed minimum time of 15 minutes, as detailed in Appendix 2.1.13.