Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Parvinder Singh Kitna of Help, an NGO, has procured records of the funds collected by District Red Cross society during the tenure of various Deputy Commissioners (DCs) since the inception of Nawanshahr as a district.

During the tenure of DC HIS Grewal, who had joined here on September 15, 2003, Rs 19,36,844 were collected and Rs 22,12,175 spent, and a large amount was paid in the form of telephone bills. Besides, Rs 3,75,909 were spent on purchasing new Ambassador car for DRCS on January 15, 2004, and Rs 25,000 were spent on its accessories. Money for registration and repair of the car was withdrawn from the Red Cross funds. A Rs 15,000 treadmill was also purchased. Rs 11,000 were spent on the decoration of a police Gypsy on Republic Day. The phone bills of over 7,000 have been paid at short intervals. Interestingly, heaters were purchased for DRCS when the winter season was almost over.

Interestingly, two DCs, Krishan Kumar and Bhavna Garg, had not withdrawn any money for phone bills and petrol expenditure from Red Cross funds. Krishan Kumar had, in fact, deposited Rs 51,000 in DRCS.

During the tenure of first DC JB Goel, the DRCS money was used for paying hefty phone and the electricity bills of the DC residence. Money was also spent to purchase confectionary and letter pads.