The Government has released over Rs 11 crores under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness (ER&HSP) Package,’ Phase-II under National Health Mission (NHM) for the year 2022-23.
In this regard, the sanction of funds amounting to Rs 11 crores and 62 lakhs has been accorded by the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department as grant-in-aid released by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under the said scheme and its placement at the disposal of Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K.
The H&ME has sanctioned the advance drawl of Rs. 1162.00 lakhs by Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K for e-transfer of funds into Single Nodal Account (SNA) of J&K State Health Society for utilization of funds during the current financial year 2022-23 as per the revised procedure of Centrally Sponsored Scheme funds notified by Ministry of Finance, Government of India on 23-03-2021 read with other SOPs/ guidelines duly circulated by the Finance Department.
The release of funds has been made subject to the conditions which stated that the expenditure shall be made strictly, according to the classification under which funds have been authorized by the Finance Department.
Treasury Officers have been directed not to entertain bills without complete classification under which funds have been authorized by the Finance Department, while the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) have been told to all codal formalities before the presentation of bills at the Treasury.
As per the conditions laid down, the Treasury Officer shall not allow parking or drawl of funds in the Civil Deposit without prior concurrence of the Finance Department, while as the Mission Director, NHM has been directed to send a status report about the scheme in terms of physical and financial progress made during the current financial year.
The Mission Director, NHM has also been directed to send Utilization Certificates (UCs) of the funds as early as possible and positively before 31-03-2023 to the Government of India under intimation to this department while it has been underlined that all the sanctions/ approvals and clearances shall be in place before the drawl of money from the treasury.
The H&ME stated that the expenditure shall be incurred strictly as per the guidelines of the scheme and the conditions laid down in the sanction letter of the concerned Ministry of Government of India and that the Mission Director, National Health Mission shall follow the revised procedure of CSS funds notified by the Ministry of Finance.
It is to be noted here, that under the ER&HSP Package, the Centre is aiming to support States/UTs for the implementation of the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) in all the District Hospitals of the country, which is presently implemented only in 310 DHs as well as to create Paediatric units in all 736 districts and also, to establish Paediatric Centre of Excellence (Paediatric CoE), including several other up-gradations.
Pertinent to mention, in March 2020, the PM announced a Central Sector Scheme of Rs. 15,000 crores for the package to push the efforts of MoHFW and States/UTs, and catalyze health systems activities for pandemic management. (Daily Excelsior)
