Calcutta, Nov. 28 :    Calcutta, Nov. 28:  A secret probe initiated by the Union ministry of health and family welfare has unearthed a racket routed through fake medical camps run by 'unrecognised' NGOs. The probe team, which recently toured Calcutta, concluded that 'over the past few years, several NGOs have submitted fictitious bills, amounting to several lakhs of rupees, to the state health department', for conducting medical camps. 'We discovered several Calcutta-based NGOs, which were not recognised, laying claims to medical camps conducted by them,' said A.P. Jain, national consultant to the Union ministry of health and family welfare, from New Delhi. Jain was part of the probe team that visited the city. 'I do not remember the names of the numerous NGOs... They had not even obtained the necessary clearance from state authorities for the camps. I have already submitted my report in this connection for appropriate action,' Jain added. According to estimates, 'over one lakh organisations', functioning as NGOs in West Bengal, are either 'not registered or have not renewed their registration'. They, however, continue to enjoy NGO status, courtesy 'active assistance' from a section of the district authorities. A senior official of the state health and family welfare department confirmed that the Central probe had found evidence of 'at least 25 city-based NGOs' registering 'false claims' of conducting medical camps. 'There are hardly any inquiries. Everything is sorted out by a section of the government machinery helping NGOs obtain money from the Centre against fake medical camp bills,' said a senior official, assisting the probe. The lid was blown off the racket a few weeks ago when the North 24 Parganas-based District Blindness Control Society (DBCS) requested the Union health and family ministry, through the state government, 'to disburse over Rs 48 lakh' to NGOs in the district for 'voluntary work to prevent blindness'. The disbursement of the Rs 48 lakh has now been stalled. Society chairman and district magistrate of North 24-Parganas H.K. Divedi said: 'Some organisations seem to have conducted medical camps without proper permission from the authorities. We will definitely haul them up.'