Kerala COVID Campaign Under Scrutiny: Finance Report Flags Irregularities in ₹4.88 Crore 'Break the Chain'
The Finance Inspection Wing (NT-D) of Kerala has released a report alleging irregularities in the implementation of the 'Break the Chain' campaign, a COVID-19 prevention initiative led by the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM). The campaign, which cost ₹4.88 crore, is now under scrutiny for non-compliance with government norms.
According to the inspection conducted in May 2024, the government never issued a specific order assigning the KSSM the responsibility to carry out the campaign. The report states that no government ratification was obtained for the programmes or expenditure incurred by the mission. Additionally, it highlights various procedural lapses, including lack of estimates for works, incomplete tender procedures, and absence of entries in the stocks register. The internal audit was conducted by a chartered accountancy firm chosen by the KSSM itself, and no performance or social audit was evidenced.
The report also notes that advances were given without value assessment, settlement timelines were not adhered to, and many Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) works were outsourced to private agencies without prior government permission. It recommends a comprehensive audit of asset records and disciplinary action against Dr. Mohammed Asheel, the then Executive Director of KSSM.
Dr. Asheel has refuted the report, terming it unfair and a conspiracy. In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), he sought the annulment of the report, describing it as a systematic attempt to discredit a critical public health intervention. He stated that he submitted a 69-page reply with documented evidence, but his response was dismissed as 'unsatisfactory' without specifying why the evidence was unacceptable. He also pointed out that he was never contacted during the seven inspection visits by the Finance team.
Dr. Asheel highlighted that 'Break the Chain' was widely praised by international and national bodies. The Lancet cited its innovative use of behavioural nudges, and MIT studied it as a replicable blueprint for pandemic response. He claimed the campaign saved an estimated 15,000 lives in 2020 alone and prevented over 500,000 infections by delaying the peak and flattening the curve, giving Kerala's health system critical time to prepare.
The report and the response have sparked debate over administrative procedures during emergency health interventions. As the matter awaits further review, the contrasting accounts underscore the challenges in balancing rapid response with compliance during a crisis.
