Disease control program in jeopardy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 06 2011:
On account of non-release of fund for the State Vector Borne Disease Control Society by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the State Vector Borne Disease Control Programme has been thrown into serious jeopardy in addition to non-payment of salaries for employees.
The annual budget for the current year 2011-12 for the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society is around Rs 4.23 crores and 70 per cent of the budget has been set aside for payment of salaries to its employees.
According to information received from the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society, the society's budget was released in parts every three months by the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to the account of NRHM.
The first instalment of the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society's annual budget was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to the account of NRHM on October 2 .
However, the NRHM has not released the fund till date thereby denying salaries to around 100 staff of the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society since the month of February this year.
Moreover, several programmes of the society have been jeopardised on account of non-release of fund.
Incidentally both NRHM and the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society have been functioning under the Societies Registration Act.
On being enquired about the non-release of fund, it has been learnt that the NRHM has been insisting on signing an MoU first, by virtue of which NRHM would have control over the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society.
According to guidelines, an integrated health society should be set up first.
However, if the MoU should be signed first, there is no authenticated official in the Manipur State Vector Borne Disease Control Society.