Nongpoh, June 20: Two organizations from Ri Bhoi District, the Ri Bhoi Youth Welfare Organization (RBYWO) and the Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CoRP) have jointly exposed on alleged large-scale corruption within the Meghalaya Health Department. The allegations are based on documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, which reveal serious irregularities in the implementation of development projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to the two organizations, the corruption centres around the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MHSSP), implemented under the leadership of IAS officer Ram Kumar, who has served as the Project Director since its inception. The project, with an estimated budget of Rs. 50 crores, was aimed at developing civil infrastructure across the state.
In a press statement issued to the media, the organizations revealed that RTI findings show alarming discrepancies in the awarding of work contracts. Some individual contractors were awarded as many as 20 to 60 different projects, ranging from minor works to projects worth several crores. The estimates for many of these projects, prepared by the Health Engineering Wing (HEW) under the Health Department, were allegedly inflated up to three times the actual cost.
One glaring example cited was the construction of an Operation Theatre (OT) at Bhoirymbong CHC. According to the Executive Engineer of HEW, the estimated cost was Rs. 84,00,000, but the final bill paid to the contractor BD Marbaniang amounted to Rs. 1,04,76,036.19, exceeding the estimate by nearly Rs. 20 lakhs.
An on-ground inspection by the organizations, including measurement and assessment by professional architects, suggests that the actual cost of construction should not have exceeded Rs. 25 lakhs. They acknowledged that while profit margins are expected in project work, the scale of discrepancy indicates gross misuse of public funds, especially given that the funding was a loan from the ADB.
Further, the organizations raised concerns over the unequal distribution of government contracts. As per the documents obtained, individuals like BS Syiem received 50–60 separate contracts, sidelining other contractors who remain unemployed.
The organizations are now demanding clarification from the new MHSSP Project Director, Dr. N.E. Kharsohnoh, regarding the construction of the Bhoirymbong OT and the complete renovation of Umsning CHC, a project valued at Rs. 4.07 crore. Documents reveal that Rs.1.35 crore has already been disbursed, while construction has only progressed to the ground and first floors far short of what was sanctioned.
The RBYWO and CoRP have stated that they are currently awaiting an official response from the Project Director. If no satisfactory explanation is provided, they will escalate the matter through legal and institutional ways. They also urged the State Government to initiate a CBI inquiry, similar to actions taken in Assam, to hold responsible officials accountable. As a striking example of wasteful expenditure, they cited the construction of a VIP toilet in Mairang by the Tourism Department allegedly budgeted at Rs. 25 lakh which they claim is excessive and symbolic of the widespread financial mismanagement.
