Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 04:
The State Government held up release of funds sanctioned by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to the State AIDS Control Society has it has received strict instructions from the Union Home Ministry to block the funds, according to a highly placed source.
The source said that the Union Home Ministry resorted to the measure after it acquired information that a fair share of funds were taken by underground organizations.
A two member central team will be coming to the State regarding the matter.
The Ministry instructed the State Government to block the funds for the current year until investigations were carried out into the alleged nexus between the NGOs receiving the funds and UG groups, it added.
It may be recalled that the Union Home Ministry had alleged that several NGOs in the State including those receiving funds from the MACS were channeling the funds to UG groups during the W Nipamacha regime.
The source said that the Ministry will be sending a NACO team to the State to investigate into the matter shortly.
The two member team will carry out inspections into the use of funds by MACS.
The team will submit its report to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
The Home Ministry after checking out the recommendations of the Health Ministry, will issue the relevant orders, the source added.
It may be recalled that NACO had released Rs 2,40,00,000 to MACS for 2001-2002 in July this year.
Several projects are being stalled due to the ban of the Home Ministry.