Financial Irregularities Unveiled in Maharashtra Child Rights Panel

The CAG has identified several financial irregularities in the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for the fiscal year 2018-19. The report highlights issues like misallocated interest income, unrecorded expenditures, and discrepancies in asset depreciation calculation. Concerns over lack of transparency and poor internal audit measures were also raised.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has highlighted significant financial mismanagement within the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights during the fiscal year 2018-19. This revelation raises grave concerns over inadequate internal controls and numerous accounting errors.

In a report presented on Tuesday, it was disclosed that interest amounting to Rs 10.23 lakh, earned on government grants and meant to be returned, was incorrectly treated as income by the commission. Additionally, expenditures totalling Rs 1.93 lakh were omitted from the accounts, thus inflating the commission's financial surplus.

The report further sheds light on flawed asset depreciation calculations, resulting in an overstatement of Rs 0.26 lakh. A lack of auditing practices and transparency in financial records was noted, with discrepancies such as unsupported advance withdrawals. Despite receiving Rs 1.14 crore in grants, no genuine explanation has been provided by the commission for these issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)