Exploitation of resources in Manipur AIDS Control Society

Iboyaima *

29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial day by MNP+ at MDU hall, Imphal on May 20 2012
Pix - Banti Phurailatpam

Manipur State AIDS Control Society was established in 1998 with an objective to arrest the pandemic of HIV/AIDS in the State. Since then, the society has been taking up various programmes/specific projects in co-operation with its partner NGOs to give awareness to the people regarding the disease and cater/support on the needs of HIV/AIDS affected people living in the State. But it is sad to learn that the society is deviating from its objectives as a consequence of grave administrative failure and serious mismanagement of programmes.

The State AIDS Cell, Manipur was dissolved and converted into a society (MACS) in 1998 so that the functioning of the Organization (MACS) could become simpler and less time consuming unlike the Government Departments where complex and lengthy process is involved in executing a decision. The organization has its own finance unit to handle the funds which is wholly funded by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the State Government has no share in respect to funding of MACS projects.

Moreover, the funds are directly credited to the accounts MACS instead of routing through State Government accounts to avoid unnecessary hassle and interference from State Government and its auditors.

But in contrary to the objectives of installing it as a society, MACS is now functioning, more or less, like a Government Department due to inability of its officers to take decisions. Every matter, be it financial or non financial, is referred to State Government seeking approval which not only lengthen the process causing inconvenience in reaching out to the affected people in time but also contradicting the bye-laws of the Society and directives of NACO.

Funds for different projects are being held up due to lengthy processes. This is seriously affecting the functioning of its partner NGOs who are running different projects for welfare of HIV/AIDS affected peoples in the State. The NGOs are facing lots of inconveniences to raise funds and to continue the project uninterrupted despite non release of funds by MACS.

Forget about the NGOs even the matter of service extension of their own staff couldn't be processed in time. (till the time of writing of this article contract services of their employees is not renewed since February 2011). NACO clearly states that the extension of contractual service of SACS employees should be done on a yearly basis based on performance appraisal by Project Director of the concerned State. The same order is followed in all states of India with the exception of Manipur. In MACS, the matter of service extension of its employees is entrusted to State Government since 2011 due to inability of MACS Officers to implement the NACO Order. It seems that MACS officers are not aware that they working for MACS (an autonomous body with funding from central government) not for State Government when they are deputed to MACS.

Regarding salary matter also, MACS contractual staff are deprived of NACO approved salary. No increment has been given since 2009 despite numerous orders from NACO. And it's really ironical to learn that, deputed officers from the State Government enjoy the NACO perks, allowances and incentives instead of the State norms (which are lower) and the contract staff are forced to accept the State norms instead of NACO.

In addition to this, excess Government officers are deputed in MACS and salary meant for contract staff are being utilized to pay salary of these officers. According to a report of Regional Co-ordinator NACO (2011), 52% of the salary funds in MACS are utilized to pay the salary of deputed officers in MACS and rest to contract staff. And its interesting to note that total figure of deputed officers in MACS is less than 7 while the contract staff is more than 300.

Though annual increments are given to all MACS staff as decided by NACO. These increments are deprived to MACS contract staff. In Manipur, these increments are subject to approval of a third party (Finance Department, Government of Manipur). This is really absurd; there is not a single document in MACS, NACO, GOI or Government of Manipur which says that increments fixed by NACO (the funding agency of MACS) should be implemented with approval from Finance Department, Government of Manipur.

NACO is the only authority to decide the salary matter of SACS employees and not the State Government or any other departments of the Government. The MACS's role is to implement NACO order with due approval of the Executive Committee (the decision making body of the MACS). But officers of MACS ignore NACO directives as well as decision taken by its executive committee and are seeking approval of PIC, Finance Department Government of Manipur for reasons known to them only.

Obviously in such circumstances MACS contract employees feel that they are being exploited and their morale is low. They are not concentrating on their works which is directly affecting functioning of the organization. Most of the employees (Headquarters as well as its district units) are attending office 2-3 days a week and some haven't attended office in months and no action is being taken against such acts, a clear sign of administrative failure.

Whenever I visit the head office of MACS, I see most of them gossiping / discussing about their plight instead of focusing on their duties and successful implementation of the project. They are hatching up another strike / close down of ART centres demanding NACO pay. I wonder why they didn't go to court instead of resorting to drastic measure like closing ART centres and depriving affected people of their life saving drugs. In these circumstances the millennium development goal of reversing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the State will always remain a dream.

Mismanagement of programmes: The various programmes /projects taken up by the society and its NGO partners require a detailed review. With the exception of a few NGOs the projects taken up with funding from MACS are for name sake only. Most of the NGOs don't even have proper office to render service to affected peoples. And the officers of MACS are turning a blind eye to the working of these NGOs. The funds meant for caring of HIV/AIDS victims and spreading awareness are not reaching the target effectively.

Many mismanaged events/functions/trainings are being organized instead of reaching out to the affected people. Why does the finance section of MACS need to close for two weeks to tour the district facilities? This is a clear evidence of mismanagement; finance unit is the backbone of any organization and if that unit closes just for petty reasons the rest of the organization will follow suit.

What is the need of organizing a rock contest? Is it to give awareness to rock lovers of Manipur which hardly numbers 2500, out of the 25 lakh music lovers of Manipur. Why do the brand ambassador of MACS and the HIV/AIDS affected people beg for help (like beggars) to MACS officials?

Isn't it the duty of MACS to help them? Such events show that programmes/projects of MACS are being headed by incompetent & insensible Officers. Please remember that MACS is for the people of Manipur, for the welfare HIV/AIDS affected Manipuris and not for the welfare of MACS Officials.

Remedy: Firstly, Reorganization of MACS administration under an able leader which knows the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in depth is the only remedy. The frequent changing of Project Director of MACS is a serious hurdle in the functioning of MACS. The society needs competent officers who could take decisions not advice seekers. The working process of MACS should be simplified and decentralized as laid out by NACO.

The system of centralizing programmes and funds which is being adopted by MACS should be abolished immediately. DAPCUs and other units should be given their powers / funds and MACS should monitor their working as given in NACO guidelines.

Secondly, an organization can't work under two systems/administrations, so it's better for MACS to adopt either NACO or State rules. Both can't be mixed. If the officers of MACS are in favour of state rules and administration, then dissolve the finance and administration unit to save cost and initiate process to bring MACS directly under Health department, Government of Manipur.