Panel recommended to probe 'irregularities' in scouts bodies

A high-level committee under the Youth Affairs Ministry has recommended setting up of a panel to probe alleged irregularities, including financial ones, in two scouts and guides' bodies, the Centre today said.
"Several complaints had been received about the Bharat Scouts and Guides and the Hindustan Scouts and Guides, from lack of transparency in financial management to leakage of question papers related to exams.
"So, we had set up a high-level committee last October to look into those complaints. The committee has submitted its final report today," Youth Affairs Minister Vijay Goel told reporters here.
He said the first interim report was submitted to the ministry on January 31, and the committee has now recommended setting up of an inquiry panel to probe these alleged anomalies and irregularities.

"The committee has suggested some important changes that will make these two scouts bodies better by making them more accountable," Goel said.
"Financial irregularities, management and administrative issues have had a huge impact on these organisations. So, an overhaul is required. And, this panel would help us in doing that," he added.

Bharat Scouts and Guides, traces its origin to the year, 1909, and the Hindustan Scouts and Guides is also nearly a century-old.
According to the ministry officials, Bharat Scouts and Guides has about 68 lakh members, nationwide and "both bodies receive Rs 75 lakh as grant from the Centre per year".

"Besides, they get funds from respective state governments as well as though the membership fee," an official said.
Goel said these two scouts bodies have played important roles in building discipline and work ethics among the youth and hence, they need to be restructured, so they can also contribute in spreading awareness about the government's programmes.
The youth affairs minister also said that the category involving members below five years of age would be scrapped.