‘Ministry asked WHO to foot bill’
In a startling revelation, a RTI has revealed that the Union health ministry asked for over `3 lakhs from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for meeting expenses of their two-day conference organised at the Heritage Village Resort in Manesar in 2010.
The meeting was held at a total cost of `8,46,212 under the chairmanship of Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on September 28 and 29, 2010. According to the documents, a conference hall including tea and snacks and lunch for two days costed `1,56,250 and the charges for 20 rooms (15 singles and 5 suites), that were booked for the experts participating in the conference were settled at `1,75,000.
However, to meet the expenses the health ministry wrote to the WHO asking for their financial assistance. “The department has proposed financial assistance from WHO for hosting this programme and it is understood that a verbal confirmation has been received. Since 50 per cent of advance payment is to be released to the hotel towards booking of 20 rooms it has been proposed to release funds from budget available with CC&P Section and later on get it reimbursed from WHO,” said the RTI.
The health ministry officials later wrote to the WHO asking for the financial support for the conference.
“I request you to provide financial support from WHO for organising the above meeting to the tune of `3,31,250/- (Rupees three lakhs thirty-one thousand two hundred and fifty only),” said the letter that was sent to the WHO from the health ministry.
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