AIIHPH gave stipend to PG diploma students at higher rate: CAG

New Delhi: The All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH) gave stipend at a higher rate to students of two post-graduate diploma courses even when the courses were not prescribed in MCI regulation, causing a loss of over Rs 3 crore, the CAG has said.

The courses in question are Diploma in Industrial Care and Diploma in Maternity and Chilf Welfare.

Since the PG students of government college in West Bengal were getting a monthly stipend of Rs 6,340, Rs 6,840 and Rs 7,340 for the first, second and third year respectively, the institute approached the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to increase the money and bring it on par with the students of West Bengal government medical colleges.

The request was approved in June 2005.

However, when the Medical Council of India (MCI) officials inspected the institute in 2012, they found the courses were not prescribed in the regulation.

"Thus, the institute without ensuring that the courses were prescribed in the MCI regulation allowed payment of stipend at higher rate to the students of two PG diploma courses resulting in excess payment of Rs 3.63 crore,"it said.

The auditor also pointed to an incorrect determination of "use factor" for calculation of service charges on property tax by the Safdurjung hospital that resulted in excess payment of Rs 4.60 crore to New Delhi Municipal Council.

The institute, affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, conducts diploma and degree courses.