SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Drug Users Network (MeDUNet) has demanded an independent inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM).
Speaking to the media here on Monday, MeDUNet general secretary Arborlang Thangkhiew said the network was not defending VHAM but alleged that the report of the fact-finding team was “biased” and it was also different from the one conducted by Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS).
Thangkhiew alleged that the fact finding team had gone to conduct the inquiry with the purpose of defaming Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya.
“Most of our members were also threatened by the fact-finding team who changed the statements of our members. The report of the team was more or less exaggerated,” he said.
MACS has decided to terminate the contract with VHAM centres in Jowai and Ladrymbai with effect from December 1 following the alleged misappropriation of funds by the organisation.
However, the general secretary Arborlang Thangkhiew said the decision taken was a harsh one because the authorities concerned should have punished only those responsible for the irregularities.
MeDUNet had recently staged a protest in front of the MACS office.
Meghalaya AIDS control Society has sought 30 days’ time to decide on the demands of MeDUNet, said Thangkhiew who hoped for a positive response.
Expired syringes
Thangkhiew claimed that the issue of expired syringes had been rectified and no cases were reported by drug users that they have been affected due to this.
Denying the allegation that drug users were deprived of OST, MeDUNet member Deimon Syngkon said, “As per guidelines by NACO, a drug user if he comes in an intoxicant state, he should not be given OST or syringes because it may affect his health.”
