AIDS-Affecgted kids go without aid due to procedural lapse

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AIDS-hit kids go without aid due to procedural lapse

Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, October 9/ A procedural lapse on part of the officials in the Health

and Family Welfare Department has led to lapsing of the budget meant to be paid

as monetary relief to 124 AIDS-affected children.

Ninety-four of these children belong to Hamirpur district. Thirty-six of them

acquired HIV from their parents, while 40 are orphans whose parents had died of

AIDS.

The state government had announced to provide monetary relief to these children

for their education, food and other expenses through the AIDS Control Society.

During 2007-08, the state government sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the purpose, but

no money has been allocated during this financial year till now.

AIDS-affected children of up to 3 years of age are paid Rs 300. Those in the

4-to-6-year age group get Rs 400, 7-to-9-year-old get Rs 500, 10-to-12-year-old

get Rs 600 and 13-to-15-year-old get Rs 700 per month under the scheme.

While officers are just passing the buck on each other for delay in allocation

of the money by the state government, sources in the department said the budget

was not allocated due to procedural lapse on the part of the department.

“The officials concerned forgot to submit the utilisation certificate to the

government as a result of which budget could not be got released for the current

year, they said.

AIDS programme officer in Hamirpur district hospital Katwal said, “The

monetary relief to AIDS-affected children could not be paid since March, 2008,

as the budget has not been allocated for the current year so far.â€

Director (health services) Sulakshana Puri said, The budget for the purpose was

not allocated by the government as the required utilisation certificate was not

submitted. However, we have submitted the certificate now and the funds will be

released soon, she added.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081010/himachal.htm#9