SHILLONG: A fact-finding team which included representative from Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) has detected large scale funds embezzlement against Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) which was implementing HIV control programme in Jaintia Hills region. .
MACs project director, Dr L Lyngdoh Mawnai on Friday told reporters that based on the reports submitted by the fact finding team, they have taken this decision to terminate the services of VHAM centre at Jowai and Ladrymbai.
She also informed that they had decided to go ahead with the decision of allowing the Mih Myntdu Community Social Welfare Organisation to take over in the implementation of the programme in both Jowai and Lad Rymbai.
She also informed that the office would also select a few staffs from the VHAM in this new NGO so as it would not affect the community.
When asked on the demand of MeDUNet to reinstate VHAM, she said that it is the Governing Body which would have taken such decision,” she said.
When asked about the demand to constitute an independent inquiry into this matter, Dr Lyngdoh Mawnai said that even this decision had to be taken by the higher authorities.
Meanwhile, MACS Additional Director, Wilson Dohling said that at the beginning they were unaware about the fund embezzlement of VHAM since it had always been one of the best performing organisations in the implementation of the programmes.
He said that one of the major irregularities that they have found out against VHAM was the inflation of population of the numbers of drug users who are receiving treatment in their centres.
“When the actual number of drug users who are receiving treatment in the two centres is around 200 plus. The organisation (VHAM) mentioned that they are 400 plus who are undergoing treatment with them for the sake of receiving more funds,” Dohling said.
On the other hand, Meghalaya Drug User’s Network (MeDUNet) which staged a protest march till the office of the MACs on Friday, asked the society to reinstate the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) for implementing the HIV control programme in the State.
“We would want our treatment and other services to be continued in the centres run by VHAM,” MeDUNet general secretary, Arborlang Thangkhiew told newsmen after meeting the officials of the MACs here on Thursday.
While terming that the allegations on the funds embezzlement against VHAM as blatant attempt to tarnish the image of the organisation, Thangkhiew asked the MACs to conduct an independent inquiry into the whole controversy.
He also lambasted the members of the Fact Finding Team (FTT) for manipulating with the findings to ensure that the contract of VHAM in the implementation of the HIV Control Programme is terminated.
At the same time, MeDUNet also demanded that the service of all the staff of the Family Health International based with NETSU to be terminated right from the Deputy Leader down to the Field Mentors.
Meanwhile, the organisation has also expressed their unhappiness over the decision of the MACs to hand over the project Mih Myntdu Community Social Welfare Social Organisation from December 1.
Barry L Kharmalki, who first detected the alleged misappropriation told reporters that the VHAM was even distributing expired syringes in Ladrymbai.
“People should ask VHAM where is Rs 39 lakhs and I am surprised MACS is not filing an FIR into the matter, he told reporters.
He also alleged fake receipts were issued for syringes in jowai and Ladrymbai.
Some recovering drug addicts who were part of the rally, told reporters that they were forcefully brought to the rally and they were threatened that they would not be given their oral substitution therapy if they do not participate in the rally.