CAG finds 100% vacancy of teachers and social workers in Himachal Pradesh prisons

This audit examined the compliance of the Government of Himachal Pradesh's Departments of Prisons and Correctional Services, Rural Development (MGNREGS), Animal Husbandry, and Public Works Department for the period ended March 2024.

Government of Himachal Pradesh: Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, Department of Rural Development, Department of Animal Husbandry, and Public Works Department.

• Prisons: Only 36% of required guarding staff were present; teachers and social workers were 100% vacant; 40% of medical referrals failed due to escort shortages; ₹6.56 lakh owed to prisoners for misuse of their property accounts.
• MGNREGS: 36.46% of Job Cards issued with delays (median 249 days); ₹77.47 crore in wage payments delayed; ₹15.75 crore spent on unauthorized 'Panchavati Yojna' works; ₹4.41 crore spent on inadmissible works; ₹8.67 crore procured via varied quotations instead of centralized systems.
• Animal Husbandry: ₹68.86 crore unspent from a ₹1,562.78 crore budget; veterinary equipment lying idle due to lack of operators; delay or non-commencement of sanctioned infrastructure works.
• Public Works: Inordinate delay of eight years in executing the Combermere Nallah bridge project due to non-compliance with procedures.
• Recommendations: Adopt Model Prison Manual provisions, address staff shortages, ensure prescribed monitoring for MGNREGS job cards and works, and utilize tele-consultation for prison healthcare.

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