DIMAPUR, MARCH 23 (MExN): The Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (NNagaDAO) has expressed disappointment at the Nagaland Health Minister’s answer to questions in the NLA on the status of payments to be made to NGOs working in the field of HIV and AIDS. A press note from the NNagaDAO informed that the Minister chose to reply only about this financial year 2016-17 stating that 1.68 crore is yet to be released but was silent on the backlog of Rs. 3.23 crore. It reminded the government that NACO brought out 80% pegged norms/formula and 20% of the total budget should be supported by the state. This, it added has brought a financial discrepancy of Rs 3.23 crore in the last fiscal year 2015-16. It pointed to a letter by SN Naskar, Under Secretary- Finance NACO Government of India, dated August 26, 2016 which stated: “It is quite apparent that this liability accrued because Nagaland SACS did not strict to the instruction of NACO for following the 80% of (APP) of 2014-15 for 2015-16”. The NNagaDAO also stated that the NGOs have signed an MOU/contract with 100% and not 80%, and therefore the NGOs are demanding 100% to be released as per the MOU and work carried out.
