Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 14 2008:
USER Manipur has sought undivided attention of the Chief Minister and other relevant authorities towards the prevailing issue of HIV/AIDS in Manipur.
Asserting that the number of people living on fund provided to tackle the issue of HIV/AIDS is greater than the number of people infected/affected by the same disease in Manipur, USER Manipur said that phase III of the National AIDS Control Programme has been implemented since April this year in all the States of India except Manipur.
All other programmes taken up earlier to control HIV/AIDS in the State have also been put on hold since April last.
It also asked who would compensate for the outcome if all HIV/AIDS control programmes are suspended because of irregularities in MACS.
Asserting that the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) should be held accountable for the inability to implement NACP Phase III after completion of phase II in Manipur, USER Manipur demanded that all NGOs unable to furnish utilisation certificates for NACP phase II should be blacklisted and published to the public.
Alleging that many of the NGOs working with funding from NACO seemed to be unaware about functions of NGO, it noted that it's time for the NGOs to re-evaluate people's perception towards NGOs functioning in Manipur.
Speaking to reporters at its office today, USER Manipur president AK Kamat said that MACS sanctioned a certain amount for four months recently under NACP phase III .
But the amount was for payment of salaries to NGO workers.
More crucial programmes for controlling HIV/AIDS have been left, he decried.
It's time for the State Chief Minister and other relevant authorities to look into such unscrupulous activities of MACS, he asserted.