Exploitation of resources in Manipur AIDS Control Society
Manipur State AIDS Control Society was established in 1998
with an objective to arrest the pandemic of HIV/AIDS in the State. Since
then, the society has been taking up various programmes/specific
projects in co-operation with its partner NGOs to give awareness to the
people regarding the disease and cater/support on the needs of HIV/AIDS
affected people living in the State. But it is sad to learn that the
society is deviating from its objectives as a consequence of grave
administrative failure and serious mismanagement of programmes.
The State AIDS Cell, Manipur was dissolved and converted into a
society (MACS) in 1998 so that the functioning of the Organization
(MACS) could become simpler and less time consuming unlike the
Government Departments where complex and lengthy process is involved in
executing a decision. The organization has its own finance unit to
handle the funds which is wholly funded by National AIDS Control
Organization (NACO) and the State Government has no share in respect to
funding of MACS projects. Moreover, the funds are directly credited to
the accounts MACS instead of routing through State Government accounts
to avoid unnecessary hassle and interference from State Government and
its auditors. But in contrary to the objectives of installing it as a
society, MACS is now functioning, more or less, like a Government
Department due to inability of its officers to take decisions. Every
matter, be it financial or non financial, is referred to State
Government seeking approval which not only lengthen the process causing
inconvenience in reaching out to the affected people in time but also
contradicting the bye-laws of the Society and directives of NACO.
Funds for different projects are being held up due to lengthy
processes. This is seriously affecting the functioning of its partner
NGOs who are running different projects for welfare of HIV/AIDS affected
peoples in the State. The NGOs are facing lots of inconveniences to
raise funds and to continue the project uninterrupted despite non
release of funds by MACS. Forget about the NGOs even the matter of
service extension of their own staff couldn’t be processed in time.
(till the time of writing of this article contract services of their
employees is not renewed since February 2011). NACO clearly states that
the extension of contractual service of SACS employees should be done on
a yearly basis based on performance appraisal by Project Director of
the concerned State. The same order is followed in all states of India
with the exception of Manipur. In MACS, the matter of service extension
of its employees is entrusted to State Government since 2011 due to
inability of MACS Officers to implement the NACO Order. It seems that
MACS officers are not aware that they working for MACS (an autonomous
body with funding from central government) not for State Government when
they are deputed to MACS.
Regarding salary matter also, MACS contractual staff are deprived of
NACO approved salary. No increment has been given since 2009 despite
numerous orders from NACO. And it’s really ironical to learn that,
deputed officers from the State Government enjoy the NACO perks,
allowances and incentives instead of the State norms (which are lower)
and the contract staff are forced to accept the State norms instead of
NACO. In addition to this, excess Government officers are deputed in
MACS and salary meant for contract staff are being utilized to pay
salary of these officers. According to a report of Regional Co-ordinator
NACO (2011), 52% of the salary funds in MACS are utilized to pay the
salary of deputed officers in MACS and rest to contract staff. And its
interesting to note that total figure of deputed officers in MACS is
less than 7 while the contract staff is more than 300.
Though annual increments are given to all MACS staff as decided by
NACO. These increments are deprived to MACS contract staff. In Manipur,
these increments are subject to approval of a third party (Finance
Department, Government of Manipur). This is really absurd; there is not a
single document in MACS, NACO, GOI or Government of Manipur which says
that increments fixed by NACO (the funding agency of MACS) should be
implemented with approval from Finance Department, Government of
Manipur. NACO is the only authority to decide the salary matter of SACS
employees and not the State Government or any other departments of the
Government. The MACS’s role is to implement NACO order with due approval
of the Executive Committee (the decision making body of the MACS). But
officers of MACS ignore NACO directives as well as decision taken by its
executive committee and are seeking approval of PIC, Finance Department
Government of Manipur for reasons known to them only.
Obviously in such circumstances MACS contract employees feel that
they are being exploited and their morale is low. They are not
concentrating on their works which is directly affecting functioning of
the organization. Most of the employees (Headquarters as well as its
district units) are attending office 2-3 days a week and some haven’t
attended office in months and no action is being taken against such
acts, a clear sign of administrative failure. Whenever I visit the head
office of MACS, I see most of them gossiping / discussing about their
plight instead of focusing on their duties and successful implementation
of the project. They are hatching up another strike / close down of ART
centres demanding NACO pay. I wonder why they didn’t go to court
instead of resorting to drastic measure like closing ART centres and
depriving affected people of their life saving drugs. In these
circumstances the millennium development goal of reversing the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in the State will always remain a dream.
Mismanagement of programmes: The various programmes /projects taken
up by the society and its NGO partners require a detailed review. With
the exception of a few NGOs the projects taken up with funding from MACS
are for name sake only. Most of the NGOs don’t even have proper office
to render service to affected peoples. And the officers of MACS are
turning a blind eye to the working of these NGOs. The funds meant for
caring of HIV/AIDS victims and spreading awareness are not reaching the
target effectively. Many mismanaged events/functions/trainings are being
organized instead of reaching out to the affected people. Why does the
finance section of MACS need to close for two weeks to tour the district
facilities? This is a clear evidence of mismanagement; finance unit is
the backbone of any organization and if that unit closes just for petty
reasons the rest of the organization will follow suit. What is the need
of organizing a rock contest? Is it to give awareness to rock lovers of
Manipur which hardly numbers 2500, out of the 25 lakh music lovers of
Manipur. Why do the brand ambassador of MACS and the HIV/AIDS affected
people beg for help (like beggars) to MACS officials? Isn’t it the duty
of MACS to help them? Such events show that programmes/projects of MACS
are being headed by incompetent & insensible Officers. Please
remember that MACS is for the people of Manipur, for the welfare
HIV/AIDS affected Manipuris and not for the welfare of MACS Officials.
Remedy: Firstly, Reorganization of MACS administration under an able
leader which knows the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in depth
is the only remedy. The frequent changing of Project Director of MACS is
a serious hurdle in the functioning of MACS. The society needs
competent officers who could take decisions not advice seekers. The
working process of MACS should be simplified and decentralized as laid
out by NACO. The system of centralizing programmes and funds which is
being adopted by MACS should be abolished immediately. DAPCUs and other
units should be given their powers / funds and MACS should monitor their
working as given in NACO guidelines.
Secondly, an organization can’t work under two
systems/administrations, so it’s better for MACS to adopt either NACO or
State rules. Both can’t be mixed. If the officers of MACS are in favour
of state rules and administration, then dissolve the finance and
administration unit to save cost and initiate process to bring MACS
directly under Health department, Government of Manipur.
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