The attention of the NMA Committee on NRHM is drawn to the rejoinder by the Anthropological Society of Nagaland on the recent NMA press conference on corruption and irregularities in NRHM, which has been published in some dailies on the 21st April 2012. The following clarification is being given on the same:
1. The study on community needs assessment study was a point of reference in the Inquiry sought by the NMA to the Governor of Nagaland on NRHM in March 2010, as the study involved a huge amount of Rs.22 lakh , based on the NRHM’s own report .
2. Documentary evidence from the NRHM, provided by the Secretary to the Governor to the NMA, in May 2010 indicates that the study was first offered by the NRHM to the Women Studies Centre, Nagaland University and not to the Anthropological Society of Nagaland, as the Women’s studies centre had a director, research officer, faculty and research fellow. However, the then Director, Women Studies Centre, who is the Chairman of the Anthropological Society of Nagaland, did not deem it fit for the Women Studies Centre to do the study, as her tenure was ending, and she proposed that her organization , the Anthropological Society of Nagaland will do the study instead. The proposal therefore was submitted by the ASN, as per documents available with the NMA..
3. The Chairman, Anthropological Society of Nagaland ,Dr.Anungla Aier was contacted by the NMA, prior to the NMA press Conference during the verification on details of documents of NRHM financial irregularities .When she was asked on the two payments of Rs.5,50,000 each, total of Rs.11 lakh in the name of the Anthropological Society of Nagaland, she denied any knowledge and said they had never done any radio program under IEC for NRHM. She said she would immediately contact them and find out, but never got back to the NMA after that. On the issue of the community needs assessment study she said their work was complete and submitted, but for many months, the NRHM was not giving approval for publishing the report as the study report had observations of serious negative shortcomings of the NRHM.
4. The NMA press conference categorically stated that NMA had verified with organizations like the Anthropological Society of Nagaland and found payments were being drawn in the name of their organization and not received by the society. The NMA is in possession of full documentary details of payments purportedly paid to the Anthropological Society of Nagaland, amongst others by the NRHM. Therefore, It is expected that the said Society will seriously take up the matter of fraud and forgery with the NRHM officials and register cases against the culprits who have drawn huge amounts in their Society’s name without their knowledge.
5. The NMA has in its possession all documents related to the NRHM issue, given by the Office of the Raj Bhavan, and others through the RTI Act .There was no intention to defame any organisation, but the NMA has raised serious questions on conflict of interest and nexus within the NRHM, time and again, and stands by the demand for a full fledged high level inquiry into all irregularities and corruption in the NRHM.
Mrs.Abeiu Meru Rosemary Dzuvichu
President, Convenor,
NMA NMA Committee on NRHM
