This came after an RTI revealed that the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) had allegedly embezzled an amount to the tune of Rs 39.91 lakh sanctioned by National AIDS Control Society (NACO).
“We demand that a time bound CID investigation or a CBI investigation as gross human rights violations has arisen affecting human lives and also corruption and misuse of public money is evident,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.
She said the organization is shocked that Rs 39.91 lakh has been allegedly embezzled by the VHAM with regards to the Targeted Intervention for Injecting Drug Users (TI-IDU) at Jowai and Ladrymbai.
The TI-IDU was sanctioned by NACO for Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention and for the safety of the marginalized community under the targeted intervention projects in Meghalaya.
Reports had earlier exposed the VHAM based at Jowai for embezzlement of Rs 15 lakh and for distributing expired syringes to the injecting drug users from January 2016 till June 2017.
According to Kharshiing, this would cause IDUs to get infections if not having safety measures, which under medical Act too is a crime.
There were also clarifications from VHAM that they did not procure any needle syringes, alcohol swabs, distilled water etc from the Pharmacies that were submitted as bills to the Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) Shillong.
Quoting RTI findings, Kharshiing however said certain developments have also come to light where in Rs 30.92 lakh has been paid to K Chyrmang between the 10/01/2012 till 18/05/2017 and an amount of Rs 8.98 lakh has been paid to Lucky Bareh (who happens to be the brother of the Counsellor of VHAM Jowai TI-IDU, Dakapaia Bareh) between 26/04/2010 till 12/09/2012.
Strangely Lucky Bareh has denied his involvement in a local news daily recently, she said.
However, Kharshiing said as per RTI, the bank statement of Corporation Bank, Laitumkhrah, it was reflected clearly that the certain Lucky Bareh’s name is reflecting in the Bank statement from 2010 to 2012.
Further, cash Memos with the VHAM Lad Rymbai, reflected the name of Lucky Bareh as Proprietor RB Pharmacy, Jowai, she stated.
Further as per the fact finding report of NETSU (North East Technical Unit) and MACS, K Chyrmang is a taxi driver and the receipts produced and available with MACS are from 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals, Jowai which indicates that K Chyrmang is the proprietor 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals, though VHAM had clarified in the news that VHAM has never done any sort of procurement from RB Pharmacy nor from 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals.
Kharshiing stated that strangely the two individual’s K Chyrmang and Lucky Bareh, where VHAM had paid lakhs of rupees are not the proprietors of RB Pharmacy or 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals.
Furthermore as per the RTI obtained it clearly indicates that VHAM TI-IDU Jowai has hardly ever procured needle syringes , alcohol swabs, distilled water and medications from 2010 to 2017 from a real existing firm except from these two individuals.
Also, as per the fact finding report Sept 2017, VHAM CC (Core Composite) Lad Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya, has been knowingly distributing expired syringes and according to report was instructed to intentionally distribute the expired syringes.
“The same report also mentions that needle syringes were destroyed by rats, which seems to be a cover up, as it was found that the steel almirah, where the syringes were stored, had no holes for the rats to get in,” Kharshiing said.
She further stated that the reports of the fact finding team, sent to inquire into the findings of the field mentors, reflects that people or injecting Drug users, has to undergo multiple and repeated testing of HIV and STI ( Sexually Transmitted Infection) beyond NACO guidelines and protocol, such as an IDU has to undergo these test twice a year only but reports indicate that statements were made by the community that they were tested about 10 times in a year which could be reasons to cover up the inflated number of IDUs (Injecting Drug Users) and to maybe achieve their target as set by NACO.
The reports further indicates that IDUs who dare question the authority of VHAM TI-IDU Jowai were banned from the DIC or implicated in a false case and were deprived of their services that is their medication and this is a great Human right violation, she said.
Reports also indicates that the failure of VHAM in dispensing quality services to the marginalized community in Jaintia Hills District has resulted in multiple individuals getting infected with HIV and not in line with the objective of the UN and WHO that funds the NACO.
Further, much anomalies have been reflected in the RTI, for which questions have to be raised as why this was not detected by the Targeted Intervention division of MACS which has a regular supervisory visit made by ADTI (Asst Deputy Target Intervention) MACS.
With all the supervisory visits made by ADTI MACS, it is surprising that these anomalies mentioned could not be detected, despite VHAM Jowai reporting increasing numbers of IDU monthly and yearly.
It may also be mentioned that the final report submitted was conducted by three members whereas the first draft of the report shows and team of 11 members.
Meanwhile, the RTI further reveals that MACS made interest of RS 70.99 lakh from 1998 till 2017 from their deposits and the total amount received by MACS from the Meghalaya Legislative Forum on Aids that had reportedly promised one lakh from each MLA, is Rs 15.48 lakh.
By Our Reporter
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