Maharashtra: Officials demanded bribes from AIDS NGOs

January 21, 2008

Officials demanded bribes from Aids NGOs

Monday, January 21, 2008 10:08 [iST]Vineeta Pandey

Mumbai: The World Bank's detailed implementation review (DIR) of the

National Aids Control Programme-2 (September 1999 to March 31,

2006), used forensic accountants and site checks in Mumbai and

Maharashtra, among other states, to probe how the war against Aids

is actually being fought.

The review shows that this vital national project has been seriously

compromised by greedy politicians and corrupt bureaucrats, leading

to poor implementation and a waste of resources.

The World Bank team visited 10 projects in Mumbai and Maharashtra

(DKT International, Sambhava Society, Slum Development,

Saheli, STD Aids & Total Health Intervention, Rashtriya Swasthya

Prabodhini, Jagruti Kendra, saheb Zhute Pratishthan, People's

Health Organisation, and Nagari Seva Prabodhini), apart from 10

others in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

It's verdict is damning. " The broadbased lack of financial controls

appeared to have created an environment in which corruption could

flourish… DIR's site visits and interviews revealed indicators that

State Aids Control Societies (Sacs) officials demanded and received

bribes from NGOs, awarded contracts to NGOs that were not qualified

or did not exist, and awarded contracts based on personal

connections rather than merit. "

In Mumbai, the DIR has noted that bribes were paid through middlemen

who took a 10-20% cut for helping NGOs to get their proposals vetted

and funds.

Staff at three NGOs who got funds from the Mumbai District Aids

Control Society (MDacs) could not describe or discuss anything

related to the project despite receiving huge funds for it. In

another case, the Maharashtra Aids Control Society awarded several

grants to an NGO though the contracting and performance documents

showed that it had not conducted any activity related to HIV/Aids

prevention. Instead, it was involved in tree planting, rural

development, distribution of school dresses, and craft education.

Slum Development, another NGO, claimed to have been

working with truck drivers in Pune. But when the DIR visited the

project site, where the NGO purportedly had an office, it found no

indication that the NGO was doing what was claimed, the report said.

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