Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 16
Without mentioning corruption, but clearly unhappy that funds meant for HIV/AIDS campaigns in Nagaland are ‘getting stuck somewhere up there’ and ‘never reaching the grassroots’, National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) Director General Sujata Rao when speaking to The Morung Express said she wants the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) to “spend it judiciously.” Expressing dissatisfaction over funds utilized in program implementation, the NACO insists that fund-use mechanism be checked by streamlining NSACS’ administrative system.
“No, we are not fully satisfied. We are not satisfied. They should spend it well with proper action-planning. Definitely they have to widen their scope. They should undertake projects with proper-planning and spend it judiciously. No, we are not satisfied” Director General Dr Sujata Rao said. She also pointed out that target-specific projects should be checked and that NSACS needs check its fund utilization. Citing the instance of projects relating to Mother-To-Child transmission as one of the neglected areas, the Director General held opinion that funds should not be ‘stuck up there’ and a proper fund management and program implementation should be made specific, especially with the III-Phase National AIDS Control Programme set to commence from April 1. Rao, however, refused to divulge the amount meant for Nagaland.
So how could fund utilization be checked? An IAS officer for the post of Project Director, she said. NACO insists that if Dr. Kumuni – long considered the builder of present NSACS – is transferred, then an IAS officer be brought in on deputation. She said NACO will be submitting an application and meet with Nagaland Chief Secretary and the Secretary of Health & Welfare on the matter. “An IAS is preferable. But it all depends If Dr Kumuni is transferred, an IAS (as Project Director) is preferable.” Dr Rao said. She said that Dr Kamuni has understanding of medical initiatives and the working dynamics involved and agreed to the idea of retaining her. “She knows how to work with the community, women and child and the HIV/AIDS-affected community; she has good management experience. We need good management and not medical qualification. We need good management” Dr Rao emphasized. Dr Kumuni was ‘promoted’ attached with the Health department recently with transfer being automatic, sources said.
Observers from the national Media are also concerned about NSACS’ fund utilization. “There is absolutely no money with the NSACS” a telejournalist who was recently in Dimapur to monitor HIV/AIDS campaigns in Nagaland said. One condition of anonymity, the journalist said funds ‘don’t seem to reach those who need it’.
Also another prominent journalist, KG Vasuki, Bureau Chief of ANI, in Dimapur last week to ‘look’ into the upcoming NACP Phase-III said a separate fund plan for Nagaland is desirable.
A separate plan is needed since ‘Nagaland is unique in all its cultural and socio-economic’ dimensions. While acknowledging that the Church is playing a major role, he felt the need for good administration of the NSACS’ HIV/AIDS campaigns. He also acknowledged Dr Kumuni’s contribution. “She did a wonderful job. She was dedicated” he said adding that her being reinstated as project Director is agreeable.
Also, Maya Jaideep of EGK Television Syndicate said “something is missing” and much more is needed to be done by the NSACS. While acknowledging that Nagaland is regulated by a unique tribal and cultural dynamism, she said funds don’t seem to be ‘circulating down to the grassroots’. “Money doesn’t circulate down to the grassroots and those who really need it” she said highlighting the need for a more reinforced, knowledgeable and trained workforce. Both Vasuki and Jaydeep were in Nagaland recently to study the HIV/AIDS situation.
(Mention may be made here that while the Union Budget allocation for health is increasing – 21.9 % making it to Rs 15,291 crores – a report from a news portal DNA, said almost half the states in the country have failed to put the central funds to proper use. Some states had below 10 per cent money utilization, with Nagaland being the most glaring example: Out of Rs 6.61 crore given to the state it spent none, the report stated.)
