Youth Dept accounts off track by Rs 30 lakh

Department has no vouchers to support money spent on sports events and sportspersons.

The chief auditor of the Zilla Panchayat internal accounts has a long list of irregularities at the expense of the Youth Services and Sports Department, including misuse of lakhs of rupees.

The Department has no vouchers to support money spent on sports events and sportspersons. Athletes who participated in PYKKA (Panchayat Yuva Kreeda aur Khel Abhiyaan) have not been awarded appropriately.

The audit team reviewed accounts of the Department from January 20, 2010 to March 9, 2012, at the office of the Assistant Director.

The inspection was carried out between March 9 and March 16 during the tenure of K Umalakshmi, assistant director between January 20, 2010 and February 21, 2012.

Questions raised

Based on findings, a report has been submitted, which has raised questions on the utilisation of funds in several instances.

Objections were raised for expenses of more than Rs 30 lakh during the tenure.

Umalakshmi was also slammed for being responsible for the poor management of accounting records of the Department.

The audit team report also said that she has not responded to requests asking her to produce vouchers for the amount drawn for self.

“Until the matter is cleared, all amounts will be kept pending,” the report said.

Report to the Government

“If allegations made against officers in the report submitted by the audit team of the Zilla Panchayat are proved right, the officers in the Department could be suspended.

Moreover, a criminal case also might be filed against the guilty officers,” said Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer P Rajendra Cholan.

The report has been submitted in March. After considering the present developments, a detailed report will be submitted to the Government, he added.

But as the first step, this issue will be discussed in the general meeting of the Zilla Panchayat, the officer said.