Emilo Khuvung
Kohima | April 16
The Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) has today strongly voiced out its disappointment against the state government for not taking action against those involved in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) irregularities. The NMA also slammed the State Governor for being mostly out-station instead of addressing the issues in the State.
Addressing a press conference this evening at its President’s residence, Abi-e Meru, the President said since the State Government failed to clear off the discrepancies in the NRHM department, thereby the NMA had submitted the representation to the Governor, being the highest authority. However, she said even to that, there is no response or intimation from the Governor till today.
Exceeding more than one an half month since the representations and memorandum being submitted to the state Governor, NMA Advisor Rosemary Dzüvichü said, the study of documents, showed huge evidence of misappropriation of irregularities and of rampant corruption within NRHM which is meant for the health care of a child and mother and thereby the NMA stated it was compelled to take up the issue.
Tabling various discrepancies in the department, Dzüvichü said NRHM is meant for women and babies and their health care as such it will not give up till the anomalies are being justified. She said the association has formed a committee, NMA committee on NRHM where she is the Convenor. She pointed out that the committee had series of discussion with the state government, concerned minister on the related issues however, till today there is silence from those who are supposed to answer.
The community monitoring that is being offered to the NMA, she said, it has to be monitored at all district units, starting at the block level, district to state level. She said after several appeals to the head of the department and the minister for release of funds to carry out the monitoring services, the amount was released which was again, she said not even one third of the budget sanctioned by the Government of India.
The project could not be materialized due to the meager amount released and the short time span to complete the project.
She said during 2009-10, community monitoring could not be done while in 2010-11 it was offered to the NMA. The NMA disclosed that the department has released Rs. 7000 per district for the NMA for the community monitoring while the officials concerned under NRHM had drawn Rs. 5 lakhs each for a trip to Peren, Mon and Tuensang, and stated the NMA has told the officials of the department and the minister not to under estimate the NMA.
Dzuvichü also pointed out on the rampant amount being drawn and mis-utilized by the officers under NRHM. She said the association has reiterated its stand and mentioned about the discrepancies in the representation submitted to the Governor. She also cautioned as to why an amount of Rs. 3,311,000 was paid to M/S N. Enterprise for establishment of JSY Helpline as advance and its introduction has not been heard and also questioned the amount, amounting to Rs. 5,300,000 for supply of furniture’s and fixtures to the Nursing School, Dimapur made to the same enterprise even before the inauguration of the school.
She added that JSY should cover even all the private clinics which is not being done in the state and said there should not be disparity in payment whether it is a male or female born.
On the purchase of vehicles, she said the NMA has accessed an RTI report from the department of Regional Transport Office (RTO), where the details showed procuring of numerous vehicles and ambulances and questioned where the ambulance is being attached, whether with the doctor or the vehicles being used for the purpose as there was report of an amount of Rs. 1,099,350 being paid, for fitment of equipment in the ambulance where as the ambulance are seen empty with no necessary equipments.
She also said the Anthropological Society Nagaland that does research work has drawn money amounting to Rs. 22 lakhs, which is even beyond the total population of the Nagaland State, while for radio programme there was also a withdrawal report of Rs. 11 lakhs for the programme that was never paid.
Dzüvichü also said the appointment of Mission Director, as per the MOU signed between the government of Nagaland and Government of India which said, must be from an IAS cadre, not less than the rank of a joint secretary, and lamented that the Mission Director is being made as a political appointment without sticking to the MOU signed.
Speaking on conflict of interest the NMA asked who are the contractors and why the doctors are becoming contractors, and why everyone within the office becomes contractors and as to why one of the biggest company ‘is mentioned the name of one- house wife’, and queried what is going on behind the curtains of NRHM as all the basic services has to be done on the health of the public. The Advisor said if actions are not initiated the NMA will be forced to seek legal justice.
