KATHMANDU, March 12: An investigation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has revealed massive misuse of state-provided personal security officers (PSOs) by former high-ranking officials, incurring millions to the national coffers.
An investigative report acquired by Republica states that over 3,000 security personnel have been deployed for the benefit of former home ministers, chief secretaries, home secretaries and ministers and also for contractors, businessmen and many others who have links to high authorities.
As per the existing regulations, the state provides security to former high-ranking officials for a certain period of time, but they have to turn the security personnel back after that.
Regulations relating to facilities for former high-ranking officials including ministers explicitly state that former home ministers have to forgo their security related facilities three years after retirement. Similarly, retired chief secretaries can keep the services of personal security officers (PSOs) for a year.
The report prepared by MoHA states that the former officials have not returned the security personnel, nor has the government called them back.
The report states that the number of such PSOs is over 3,000 and the state pays out Rs 400 million a year as salary and other facilities for them.
The report says contractors and industrialists are also in the list of those illegally using security personnel provided by MoHA. Those deployed for the security of high-ranking officials are inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables.
"We have to spend Rs 24 million for 3,000 security personnel even if we just take into account their minimum monthly salary of rupees 8,000 each," said the source, adding, "Spending Rs 24 million each month means we have to invest Rs 292 million annually for the 3,000 security personnel."
If medical benefits, leave and other facilities are added, the amount MoHA is spending exceeds Rs 400 million annually," states the report.
In blatant violation of the regulations, high ranking officials at MoHA are also found to have been providing security personnel not only for former home ministers, but also other ministers, chief secretaries, contractors and industrialists.
Due to the laxity of MoHA officials, almost all former home ministers, some chief secretaries, other ministers, contractors and industrialists have not turned back the security personnel, something they were obliged to do much earlier.
Former home ministers who have failed to return security personnel even after three years are Govinda Raj Joshi (2 security personnel), Khum Bahadur Khadka (2), Kamal Thapa (3), Purna Bahadur Khadka (2), Buddhi Man Tamang (1), Dan Bahadur Shahi (1), Niranjan Thapa (2) and Devendra Raj Kandel (3). MoHA has not requested them to send back the personnel.
Similarly, it has been disclosed that MoHA officials have failed to recall security personnel provided since a long time to former ministers Pashupati Shamsher Rana, Prakash Chandra Lohani, Ram Sharan Mahat, Shyam Sundar Gupta, Arjun Narsingh KC and Nepali Congress leader Amaresh Kumar Singh.
The security personnel provided them include 2 each for Rana, Lohani, Mahat and Gupta, 3 for KC and 2 for Singh.
Former chief secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimire has also been found to have grossly misused state facilities. MoHA officials have deployed 3 security officials for Ghimire´s home at Kuleshwor. Ghimire is Nepal´s serving ambassador to Canada.
"We provided three security officials for Ghimire´s home, following immense pressure from Ghimire before he retired from his post," a MoHA official informed Republica.
Another former chief secretary, Lokman Singh Karki has also been misusing security personnel provided by MoHA. According to the report, Karki has been keeping 3 security officials in violation of the regulations.
Former home secretaries Umesh Mainali and Shree Kanta Regmi are likewise in the list of those using such security personnel.
Worse still, the report uncovers that MoHA officials have providing security personnel even to Nepal Police rations contractor Binod Shah and industrialist Sanjaya Kediya.
Following the unlawful decision of MoHA officials, contractor Shah has been keeping three security personnel while Kediya has long had two security officers provided by MoHA.
"We cannot blame only those who have been using the security personnel for long. MoHA officials, who provided but failed to call back the security personnel are equally responsible," said the MoHA source.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29146
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