CAG raps VB for selecting publisher through flawed process

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) today rapped Visva Bharati University for conducting a "flawed" process in selecting a publisher to publish paintings of Rabindranath Tagore and altering the payment terms.
The change in the payment terms subsequently benefited 'Pratikshan', the publisher, to the tune of Rs 3.18 crore, CAG said in its report tabled in Parliament today.
"Visva Bharati's actions also frustrated their stated aim of making available Tagore's art works to all on reasonable scale," it said, adding the varsity did not verify the reasonability of the cost structure submitted by the publisher.
Audit report also found that Pratikshan was reimbursed 100 per cent of the project cost of Rs 6.35 crore as against their proposal for fifty per cent financial assistance, CAG said.

While Visva Bharati has confirmed facts and figures contained in the report, reply of the HRD Ministry is awaited.
The collection of the paintings published as 'Rabindra Chitravali' was released to commemorate Tagore's 150th birth anniversary in 2009.
The CAG report also hauled up the National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya for incurring avoidable liability of Rs 12.67 crore due to "inept handling" of contract for project management consultancy services.
It also pointed to a case of overpayment of interest to GPF/CPF subscribers in Satyawati College, Delhi University that led to an overpayment of Rs 83.30 lakh.