Gujarat short of 16k anganwadi centres: CAG report
The CAG also flagged concerns over anganwadi workers (AWWs) visiting fewer households than required.
"The state govt would require an additional 16,045 AWCs to adequately serve the current coverage of 5.53 crore population. Moreover, the additional requirement of AWCs would increase when considering the population of 6.04 crore people in Gujarat according to the 2011 census data," the CAG noted in its report on the performance of the ICDS (integrated child development scheme).
In its recommendations, the CAG advised the state to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the existing AWC network and prepare a strategic plan with clear targets, timelines, and resource allocation for establishing new centres and upgrading existing ones.
You Can Also Check:
Ahmedabad AQI
|
Weather in Ahmedabad
|
Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad
|
Public Holidays in Ahmedabad
|
Gold Rates Today in Ahmedabad
|
Silver Rates Today in Ahmedabad
The report also pointed out that in Feb 2020, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) sought proposals from the state for new AWCs. However, between March 2020 and April 2023, the state Women and Child Development Department requested only 198 AWCs (140 regular and 58 mini centres) across 11 districts.
On service delivery, the audit found a 37.75% shortfall in household visits by AWWs between 2015 and 2023. The gap rose from 32.93% in 2015–16 to 48.76% in 2020–21, before improving to 14.76% in 2021–22 and further to 5.38% in 2022–23. "The state govt stated in Oct 2024 that instructions would be passed on to AWWs to carry out the required number of household visits," the CAG report said.
The CAG audit also flagged a shortage of personnel in both field and supervisory roles. On Monday, the state govt announced over 9,000 vacancies for anganwadi workers and helpers.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Only 52% industrial allotments functional: CAG
Noida: A CAG performance audit has exposed how Greater Noida Authority mismanaged industrial and Sports City land allotments over decades, creating massive unpaid dues and leaving ambitious projects incomplete. The audit found that unpaid dues from industrial plot allottees reached over Rs 630 crore, while another Rs 2,330 crore was stuck in the Sports City and Recreational Entertainment Park (REP) schemes. Together, they represent a staggering setback for the Authority, with projects often diverted from their intended public purpose. Between Jan 1991 and March 2021, GNIDA allotted 2,580 industrial plots covering 1,130 hectares, about one-fifth of its allotted land. Yet by April 2021, only 1,341 plots (52%) were functional, many after delays as long as 19 years. Just 147 plots (11%) met the original development timelines. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Gold Rates Today in Noida | Silver Rates Today in Noida Out of these, 972 allottees defaulted on payments, resulting in Rs 630 crore in unpaid land premiums, lease rent, and interest. Over Rs 374 crore of these dues arose from allotments made between 2005–06 and 2020–21. Instead of cancelling allotments or recovering dues, GNIDA allowed defaulters to retain plots, in some cases, even enabling them to profit by transferring them to others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In Sector Ecotech-XI, 193 plots were allotted before the sector's development was complete. Lease deeds for 139 plots could not be signed due to litigation over land acquisition, which stalled roads and electricity. Instead of cancelling allotments, GNIDA waived penalties and extended deadlines, losing Rs 142 crore as deeds were later signed at outdated rates. The CAG found delays of up to 1,804 days in issuing lease deed checklists, resulting in a Rs 4 crore loss in lease rent, and failure to recover Rs 15 crore in charges for changes in shareholding. Weak eligibility norms until 2018 encouraged speculative trading, with allottees selling stakes before starting any industrial work. Launched between 2011 and 2014, the Sports City and REP schemes promised integrated sports infrastructure, golf courses, cricket academies, and facilities to host international events. None of the projects were complete as of March 2022. Four large land parcels were allotted under the schemes. Among them were Sports City-1 (Sector Techzone IV), where over 5 lakh sqm was allotted to MMR Construction for Rs 354 crore, and later split into 13 subdivisions. For Sports City-2 in Sector 27, 7 lakh sqm was given to Supertech Ltd for Rs 903 crore, and later divided into four sub-plots. For REP-1 in Sector 27, 4 lakh sqm was allotted to RBA Buildtech for Rs 327 crore and for REP-2 in Sector 27, 3 lakh sqm was given to Ultra Home Construction for Rs 382 crore—plot was later split into three sub-plots. Scheme rules mandated that 70–75% of the land be dedicated to sports/recreation. But by April 2021, 19 of 20 sub-allottees had defaulted, leaving Rs 2,330 crore unpaid. The brochures favoured real estate developers, requiring no prior sports infrastructure experience or detailed project reports. Sports bodies like BCCI or Sports Authority of India were never consulted. Consortium structures allowed inexperienced firms to qualify using partners' credentials, then exit after allotment. In Sports City-1, MMR Construction relied on NKG Infrastructure's credentials; NKG exited before lease signing, and MMR later abandoned one sub-project mid-way, violating rules. GNIDA removed the "lock-in" rule for Sports City-2 and REP-1, which had required lead members to retain a 30% stake until completion of a phase, making it easier for non-serious players to flip land. By permitting higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and more ground coverage for residential development, GNIDA gave allottees undue benefits worth Rs 470 crore. Another Rs 690 crore was lost by underpricing land and ignoring key cost factors. The focus shifted from sports to housing, with facilities reduced to token features — a small pool, a tennis court, or a putting green — meant only for residents, not public use. By March 2023, of 20 sub-allottees in Sports City and REP projects, five allotments were cancelled, and five opened escrow accounts. Ten had not opened escrow accounts despite notices. Rules in the brochures were inconsistently applied. GNIDA accepted incomplete Memorandums of Agreement between consortium members, failed to collect Rs 37.40 crore in "Change in Constitution" charges, and gave mortgage permissions despite large unpaid dues — a flawed practice followed since 2006. Even approved layouts did not safeguard large sports areas like planned golf courses. In the absence of clear technical standards, promised sports facilities never materialised, leaving the land primarily used for residential construction. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CAG points out deviations from prescribed budgetary processes in Uttar Pradesh
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's budget management procedures and pointed out deviations from the prescribed budgetary and accounting processes in the state. The CAG recommended that the state finance department should review the reasons for grants/appropriations remaining unutilised. (FILE PHOTO) Listing issues with budget management, the CAG has pointed out lapses in the regularisation of excess expenditure, classification of expenditure as revenue and capital, lump sum budgetary provisions, discrepancies in the depiction of centrally sponsored schemes, budget projections and gap between planning and execution. Under the provisions of Article 205 (1)(b) of the Constitution of India, if excess money has been spent on any service in a financial year (more than the amount granted for that service and for that year), the governor shall cause to be laid before the state legislative assembly a demand for such excesses. 'Excess disbursements amounting to ₹32,533.56 crore under 104 grants and 49 appropriations pertaining to the years 2005-2006 to 2023-2024 are yet to be regularised by the state legislature,' the CAG said in its report on the State Finances for 2023-24. The report was tabled in the state legislative assembly on Tuesday. The CAG further observed, 'Excess expenditure vitiates the system of budgetary and financial control and encourages financial indiscipline in management of public money and its non-regularisation is an infringement of the constitutional provision.' The CAG report pointed out misclassification between revenue and capital expenditure and as a result of misclassification of revenue expenditure as capital expenditure the revenue surplus was overstated by ₹283.39 crore in 2023-2024. The CAG report observed that lump sum provisions should not, as a rule, be made in the estimates except when the expenditure out of lump sum allotments is regulated by standing sanctions, instructions or rules. 'During the year 2023-2024, lump sum provisions of ₹11,022.30 crore crore were made under various heads of 17 grants without indicating scheme details. Out of these lump sum provisions, actual expenditure of ₹6474.16 crore (58.74 per cept of the provisions) was incurred,' the CAG report said. There have been discrepancies in the depiction of centrally sponsored schemes, the report said, noting that in the case of 22 programmes under the centrally sponsored schemes the specified funding pattern (central share, state share and financial institution) was not mentioned. The CAG report also observed, 'During 2023-2024, actual expenditure was ₹5,84,110.09 crore against provision of ₹7,72,484.07 crore. The overall savings of ₹1,78,373.98 crore were 23.39 per cent of total provision…' The CAG report gave details of the pattern of lower budget utilisation against the budget provisions in the past five years (2019-2024). The report said the budgetary provisions increased consistently during the period while actual utilisation remained in the range of 73% to 77% between 2019-2024. The CAG recommended that the state finance department should review the reasons for grants/appropriations remaining unutilised and take steps to make more judicious budget provisions in future. It also suggested that the reappropriations should be based on careful assessment of fund requirements.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
CAG flags ₹13,362 crore loss in Greater Noida authority's operation delays
Noida/Lucknow: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has uncovered serious procedural lapses in the functioning of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), citing irregularities in planning, land acquisition, pricing, and allotment that caused notional losses of ₹13,362 crore to the state exchequer. The findings, based on an audit conducted between December 2018 and November 2019, were tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday by state parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna during the ongoing Monsoon session. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Archives) The performance audit, covering the period from 2005-06 to 2017-18 and later updated to April 2021, found that irregularities in group housing plot allotments alone accounted for ₹10,732 crore in dues. These lapses not only drained state revenue but also delayed housing projects, leaving thousands of homebuyers in distress. According to the report, dues worth ₹19,500 crore were pending as of April 2021 for land premium, lease rent, and interest — largely from allotments made since GNIDA's inception in 1991. The findings, based on an audit conducted between December 2018 and November 2019, were tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday by state parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna during the ongoing Monsoon session. Vinod Kumar, GNIDA's general manager (finance), said corrective steps were being taken: 'Following the CAG report, we have revised our allotment policies to prevent errors in future. The staff is working on recovering the outstanding dues in line with the CAG's recommendations.' Major findings Between 2005-06 and 2014-15, GNIDA allotted 94 group housing plots — later subdivided into 186 — covering about 2,017 acres. No new allotments were made in this category after 2014-15. By April 2021, only 27 projects (18% of the targeted 148) were completed, while 95 allottees had not even partially completed construction. Many homebuyers have been waiting up to eight years for possession. Dues were pending from 81% of allottees, with ₹7,100 crore overdue for more than three years in 66 cases. Despite clear defaults, the authority failed to cancel these plots as required under allotment terms. The report also revealed that eight out of nine plot schemes launched during this period were initiated without prior board approval. In three cases, they were never even placed before the board for ex-post facto approval. The CAG concluded that GNIDA showed 'serious lapses of probity, integrity, and ethics,' failing to act against defaulting builders and its own officials. The situation reflected both poor enforcement and disregard for financial discipline. During land acquisition, officials misused urgency provisions meant for exceptional circumstances, sidestepping farmers' rights. Allotments were marred by selective relaxation of brochure conditions, underpricing of plots, reduction in allotment money, and permission to mortgage despite outstanding dues. Builders were allowed to subdivide, exit, or transfer plots before completing projects. The audit said officials acted 'in clear breach of public trust' and in 'complete disregard to the interest of GNIDA as well as ultimate buyers.' Other key lapses GNIDA, established under the UPIAD Act, 1976 to develop an industrial area near Delhi, was found to have prioritised residential development over its industrial mandate. Under the Master Plan 2021, land acquisition, development, and allotment between 2005-06 and October 2011 were undertaken without approval from the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). By September 2019, residential land development stood at 104.04% of the planned area, while industrial land development lagged at 67.47%. Out of 2,580 industrial plots allotted from 1991 to March 2021, only 1,341 units (52%) were operational — with 1,194 of them functional after delays of up to 19 years. Nearly half of the industrial projects (48%) remained incomplete, undermining GNIDA's core objective of industrialisation and job creation. Frequent revisions in acquisition proposals, poor due diligence, and delays led to avoidable expenditures, including ₹527.84 crore in excess compensation and overpriced direct land purchases. Even when builders defaulted on payments long past the due period, GNIDA failed to cancel projects, encouraging profiteering through changes in allottee ownership. Dues worth ₹10,733 crore were pending as of April 2021. Audit scope The CAG audit, ordered by the UP government in July 2017, examined the effectiveness and transparency of GNIDA's land acquisition and allotment procedures across industrial, residential, commercial, sports city, institutional, IT, and farmhouse categories. It also reviewed master plan preparation, property pricing, and internal controls. The findings paint a picture of systemic failures at all levels — from the GNIDA Board to operational staff — with adverse consequences for the state's revenue, planned industrialisation, and the rights of farmers and homebuyers. Following the audit, GNIDA says it has made changes to its allotment policies and is pursuing recovery of pending dues. However, the CAG report stresses the need for stronger enforcement, transparent decision-making, and adherence to statutory requirements to prevent recurrence. The report also indirectly raises questions about whether GNIDA's administrative structure and governance framework are fit for purpose, given the concentration of decision-making power and the absence of robust oversight mechanisms. With billions in public money at stake and critical housing and industrial projects delayed for years, the CAG's findings add to growing concerns over governance and accountability in large development authorities across the country. .
