Enough is enough: An open letter to Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS)

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Enough is enough.

Sahara has been serving the nation for the past 30 years. We have been involved

in the field of drug addiction for that period of time and have arguably the

highest success rate in the world. We work with men, women, children and the

transgender community. We have not got into this work for the ‘money’. In fact,

we gave up our lucrative jobs and decided to make a difference in the lives of

our people.

We have been working in the field of HIV since 1991. We implemented GIPA before

it was even an acronym. In fact, we implemented GIPA for the UNDP many years

later across 5 countries. We have also done a 41 site evaluation of the Nagaland

SACS funded sites. We have won several awards, including from DSACS and the

Delhi Police, and are known nationally and internationally for our pioneering

work. We were also nominated for the Mann Award in 2006.

We work across 5 states in the country and run 39 projects. More than 90% of our

staff are “peers”. We are frequently visited by dignitaries from around the

world. Sadly, no Indian dignitary has ever visited us.

We did not approach NACO. In fact NACO approached us several years ago through

Mr. Prasada Rao who is a thorough gentleman and is someone who is genuinely

concerned about people.

Many years later, the SACS have come into place and most of the people who work

there leave much to be desired. One does not know on what basis they have been

selected to work in this very sensitive area. We do not succumb to bullies or

subtle hints for bribes from the various SACS across the country. Unfortunately,

they are the people who control the cash flow with absolutely no one monitoring

them. They are uncouth, crude, insensitive, do not know the subject matter and

by now I think enough is enough, if no one else wants to take a stand, I will.

And who will watch the watchman?

It is therefore, in this light that I have attached our reply to the DSACS.

Regards,

Neville Selhore

Director Sahara

e-mail: saharahouse@...

__________________

July 13, 2007

Kind Attention: DR. PAYAL SAHU, NGO ADVISOR (DSACS)

Sub: Regarding the Annual Evaluation (2006-2007) of NGOs implementing Targeted

Intervention Project in Delhi

Madam,

This is in reply to your e-mail of 9th July, received by us on the 11th July,

2007. We are happy to note that Sahara has been disqualified to partner with

DSACS for the TI amongst the transgender /MSM community. Anyway, Sahara had been

contemplating not to partner with DSACS for sometime now, because DSACS DOES NOT

UNDERSTAND the realities at the grass root level and their personnel lack the

necessary initiative and willingness to at least make an effort to do so.

To give an example, we would like to know as to how many times “you” as an NGO

advisor had visited our project site or for that matter your M & E team. We

strongly feel that the whole evaluation exercise was a farce and that there are

other considerations involved.

You had indicated in your mail that the activities may be discontinued in our TI

project. Please note that we had been running this project since 2003 with our

own resources mobilized from “Friends of Sahara” and will continue to do so,

simply because we believe in a cause and care for human lives. However, we would

be sending you the UC, SOE and PCR as requested and would be claiming what is

rightfully due to us. It is a matter of irony that you expect a TI being run by

an NGO for 3 months from its own resources and reimburse it afterwards.

Further, we also wish to inform you that Sahara is disassociating itself from

DSACS in the care and support program as in our evaluation done on your

organisation, you have failed miserably on all accounts.

The indicators we used were transparency, honesty and timely disbursement of

funds and caring for human lives.

Please note that we would be staking our financial claim for the care and

support program for 5 months (1st Feb’07 to 11th July’07). All necessary

formalities in this respect will be complied with.

Regards,

Neville Selhore

Director Sahara