Imphal, August 30: Irked with undue delayed in releasing the pending fund for the last five months, various NGOs working under the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) have decided to launch various agitation against the Society if it fails to release the fund within September 1.Announcing this during a press conference at the Ningthem Pukhri Mapal office of Manipur Voluntary Health Association, president of All Manipur NGO Partners' Consortium on HIV/AIDS Y Surchandra pointed out non-release of fund from MACS for the last five months has not only affected the functioning of the NGO partners of MACS but also cause lot of inconveniences to the clients under them.

Surchandra said the NGOs have been requesting to release the pending fund under NACP-II for the month of April to July as well as for the month of July to August under NACP-III but till date no positive response has been received from the side of MACS inspite of giving serious impact on the smooth implementation of the programmes and the projects being taken up by the NGO partners.

So if the authority of MACS fails to release the pending fund within September 1, we would go ahead with agitation against MACS, he said.

Pauchuphou of Oriental Development Organisation, Tamei area observed that over and above the problem of communication and transports, non-release of fund from MACS in time has caused more difficulties for the NGOs working in the hill areas of the State.

Th Udoi of Centre for Organising Labour Development; Lydia Mark of Integrated Foundation Rural Development, Nungba Sub-Division and Sobhona of Nirvana Foundation were also among those who spoke at the occasion highlighting the difficulties of the NGO partners of MACS.

When contacted in connection with non-release of fund, Deputy Director of MACS Dr Manikanta explained that the fund for the last three months of the NACP-II could not be released due to certain discrepancies and incompletion of the process.

For the NACP-III the fund can be released only after signing an MoU with NACO and assessment of the NGO partners which are yet to be completed.

On the other hand, Archana Oinam, president of Nawa Leikol, an organisation working for the welfare of children with living with HIV has urged for a separate policy for dealing with the issues of children affected with HIV/AIDS.

Archana was speaking at the occasion of the 2nd foundation day of the organisation held at Khunthokhanbi Mandop, located inside DM College campus here today.

Providing ARV medication does not meant that all the needs of the young patients have been taken care off.

Education, emotional and nutritional support are also important aspects that should be looked after, she noted.

In accordance to a report of MACS, the total number of children in the age group of 0 to 10 years who have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Manipur are 682 boys and 597 girls and 883 boys and 359 girls in the age group of 11 to 20.However, among them only 407 young patients below 15 years are under ARV medication.

The prizes to the winners of the spot painting competition organised by Nawa Leikhol ahead of its foundation day on August 19 were distributed during the function which was also attended by president of Imphal West District AIDS Control Organisation Dr RK Lakhsana and Deputy Director of MACS Dr Manikanta Singh as chief guest and president respectively.

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