SHILLONG: The Civil Society Woman Organisation (CSWO) has sought either CID or CBI probe into the misappropriation of over Rs 39 lakh meant for prevention of HIV/AIDS.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the CSWO pointed out that Rs 39, 91,655 has been embezzled by the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya while carrying out the programme of Targeted Intervention for Injecting Drug Users at Jowai and Ladrymbai.
The money was sanctioned by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for HIV prevention and for the safety of the marginalised community under the targeted intervention projects in the state.
Earlier, a Jowai based NGO had misappropriated Rs 15 lakh, and has been distributing expired syringes to the injecting drug users from January 2016 to June 2017, which could cause infections if safety measures are not taken and is a crime under medical Act.
The CSWO further said that there were also clarifications from VHAM that they did not procure any needle syringes, alcohol swabs, distilled water and others from the pharmacies that submitted bills to Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS).
Certain developments have come to light through RTI filed wherein Rs 30,92, 985 has been paid to K. Chyrmang between January 2012 to May 2017, and Rs 8,98,770 was paid to Lucky Bareh, who happens to be the brother of the Counsellor of VHAM Jowai TI-IDU, Dakapaia Bareh, between April 2010 till September 2012.
However, Lucky had denied the allegations in a local daily recently.
But through the RTI, bank statement of Corporation Bank, Laitumkhrah, it was reflected clearly that the Lucky’s name is reflecting in the bank statement from 2010 to 2012, Kharshiing said.
Further, cash memos with the VHAM Lad Rymbai, reflected the name of Lucky as Proprietor RB Pharmacy, Jowai, she said.
Further as per the fact finding report of North East Technical Unit (NETSU) and MACS, Chyrmang is a taxi driver and the receipts produced and available with MACS are from 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals, Jowai which indicates that Chyrmang is its proprietor though VHAM had clarified that it has never done any sort of procurement from RB Pharmacy nor from 12 Dolloi Pharmaceuticals.
The reply to RTI query indicates that VHAM TI-IDU Jowai has ever procured needle syringes, alcohol swabs, distilled water and medications from 2010 to 2017 from a real existing firm except from these two individuals.
The CSWO said that as per the findings of the probe report, VHAM CC (Core Composite) Lad Rymbai, East Jaintia Hills district, has been deliberately distributing expired syringes.
) The same report also mentioned that the needle syringes were destroyed by rats, which seems to be a cover up, however, it was found that the syringes were stored in a steel almirah.
The CSWO added that after speaking to the locals, they found out that the people are being tested 10 times a year, whereas, according NACO guidelines the injection drug users has to undergo multiple and repeated testing of HIV and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) test twice a year only.
The VHAM is conducting tests multiple times to cover up the inflated number of IDUs or to achieve their target as set by NACO.
The reports further indicates that IDUs who dared to question the authority of VHAM TI-IDU Jowai were banned from the DIC or implicated in a false case and were deprived of medication and this is a human rights violation, the statement said.
Report also indicates that the failure of VHAM in dispensing quality services to the marginalized community in Jaintia Hills district has resulted in multiple individuals getting infected with HIV and not in line with the objective of the UN and WHO, that funds the National Aids Control Organisation.
The anomalies have been reflected in the RTI, for which questions have to be raised as why this was not detected by the Targeted Intervention division of MACS which has a regular supervisory visit made by the officials of MACS.
Despite all the supervisory visits, it is surprising that these anomalies could not be detected, despite VHAM Jowai reporting increasing number of IDUs monthly and yearly. The RTI reveals that MACS made interest of Rs 70,99,190 from 1998 till 2017, from their deposits. The total amount received by MACS from the Meghalaya Legislative Forum on Aids that had promised Rs 1 lakh from each MLA, is Rs 15,48,892.
In this context, there should be a time bound CID investigation or a CBI probe due to gross human rights violations affecting human lives and also corruption and misuse of public funds.
