AIDS Programme in India: The Burden of Paperweight

[Guest guest]

AIDS Programme in India: The Burden of Paperweight

Devendra K Budakoti

In India, it is reported that HIV is concentrated among the poor and

marginalized sections of society. These include female sex workers, injecting

drug users, men who have sex with men and migrant laborers.

Some survey reports have pointed out that this profile is changing and the

epidemic is now spreading from high-risk populations to the general population

and from urban to rural areas. This trend is certainly pointing towards a danger

signal and the solution has to be seen beyond the subject of Public Health.

But, what is the response to this issue at the national level? Consultants are

called and they dole out all kinds of strategies to tackle the problem. NGOs are

roped in to carry out the task at the field level. Targeting high risk group is

given priority and what emerges subsequently is the Targeted Intervention

strategy.

Today Targeted Intervention (TI) is one of the major components of the National

AIDS Control Programme implemented through the NGOs.

The idea is to reduce the rate of transmission, through direct intervention

involving multi-pronged strategies, ‘beginning from behaviour change

communication, counselling, providing health care support, treatment for STD,

and creating an enabling environment that will facilitate behaviour change’.

NGOs across the country are struggling to do what has been contracted to them

through the state AIDS control societies. While the activities and strategies

are within the domain of the NGOS, the number of formats, reports, and

registrars mandated to be filled under what is called the Management Information

system (MIS), is so huge and burdensome that the NGO staff is more preoccupied

and concerned in completing the paper work.

A MIS should be a mean to know the process, projections, positions,

possibilities, performance and progress and assist in policy making, planning

strategies and in programme design and interventions, but in TI project

implemented by NGOs, the time consuming and bothersome MIS has become an end in

itself.

With so much of paperwork to do, the project staff has hardly any time to take

care of their field work. They are more worried about filling the formats,

registers and write reports and minutes of the meetings, that the actual task at

the ground level has lost its essence. The MIS work load is huge and under these

circumstances NGOs hardly have any room to innovate.

On top of this, the monitoring done by officials, agencies and consultants, all

of whom act more like a school teacher checking MIS homework and in their field

visits, the behaviour is more like a drill sergeant, checking the roll call,

inspecting if the barracks are in order, finding faults, wanting better

performance, and grading the NGOs drill, field craft, map reading, fire

fighting, etc. In such a situation the NGO heads are constantly on the line of

fire.

Many are continuing with the project just for the sake of it, without their mind

and heart in the programme. The ever cribbing project staffs are always

comparing their pay and perks with the officers and staffs of the funding

agencies and their consultants. In the meantime NGO project staffs are only

enhancing their Bio-data and waiting for better opportunities.

www.ghughuti.org

[Guest guest]

I would like to respond on MIS and Documentation

AIDS programme in India has created a huge demand for both the MIS and

Documentation which could be demonstrated. Yes the staff is busy filling the

format but no other programme gives the opportunity for OJT(On the Job Training

) except AIDS programme.

There is nothing wrong in building CV and waiting for better opportunity. Each

individual has the right to do so.

It is obvious for grass root level staff to compare the salary with others in

the funding agency because a lot of competent people have been denied the

opportunity to work with funding agency . Many professionals in the NGO actually

build the capacities of the staff in funding agencies with respect to MIS and

Documentation and community participation. Most funding agency have even

contributed towards systems strengthening of NGOs. So there are brighter and

lighter sides to AIDS programme and that is how evolution takes place.

I agree partially not 100%. A lot of us get jealous and react but bias,prejudice

and favoratism exists everywhere . When I have right to make a choice how can I

deny someone else .

mkm

Meenal Mehta

e-mail: <Meenalmehta@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Re:

#n=messages & c=message%2F12101 & p=0 & v=none

I think this is an important piece of finding that everyone will listen to; We

are very good and so meticulous in planning programme, strategies and bringing

out guidelines, training manuals, organizing symposium, International workshops,

mega events, surveys and media briefings at every stage.

Everything is good only if " implementation " is ensured in the field.

Consultants hired by International agencies and National/State government and

HIV/AIDS experts can only develop strategies and also mechanism to evaluate

projects but how many of us have really asked amongst ourself what are the

strategies to ensure " implementation " .

It is not only the " paperweight " is the concern but other factors too! Let me

not list out them and I request forum members to respond to it.

This is critical, if we do not pay attention to this “bottom of the

pyramidâ€, then having this forum itself is meaningless.

Regards

Lincoln

e-mail: <lingan_abraham@...>