Mumbai: The World Bank had warned of a possibility of fraudulent practices in projects supervised by the National Aids Control Organisation. This was borne out by an annual evaluation, which found three Mumbai-based NGOs wanting.

The groups have been blacklisted and will no longer get funds for their activities

 

The National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) has blacklisted three Mumbai-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), for failing to meet the required standards.

The adverse performance appraisal came as part of the annual evaluation conducted on 27 NGOs, which get funds from the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS). The evaluation rated Sanmitra Trust, working with non-brothel, floating sex workers, as the best under MDACS.

Contracts for the SNS Foundation, People’s Health Organisation, and Humsaya Welfare Society were terminated after the three scored less than 15 points on a scale of 35.

These NGOs were found lagging in project implementation, commitment and staffing. One was even found guilty of getting the same proposal approved over and over again, with slight modifications.

Following the World Bank’s warning against possible fraudulent practices in the National Aids Control Project (NACP) II, Naco has strengthened its monitoring of NGOs.

While a separate inquiry over the World Bank’s Detailed Implementation Report is on, Naco has put in place safety measures prior to the launch of NACP III.

The nationwide evaluation was conducted between April and June 2007, following which the number of NGOs receiving government funding was substantially reduced.
Over 250 NGOs, which failed to meet the parameters set by Naco, were blacklisted.

“The evaluation gave us a clear picture of who is working and who is not,” said Naco chief K Sujata Rao. “We were able to check fraudulent claims and based on the evaluation, we weeded out corrupt, non-performing and inefficient NGOs.”

Rao said supervision of NGOs would be far more vigorous from now. “Each November, a three-member committee will inspect if NGOs deserve continuation of support,” she said. “Those that are good can continue, but poor performers will have no place.”

According to the new evaluation system, NGOs scoring lower than 15 are considered under-performers warranting a serious review while those scoring between 15 and 25 will be recommended for continuation with suggestions and benchmarks for improvement within a timeline.

Groups scoring above 25 are considered to be good.

SNS Foundation, working with migrant workers, scored 14, Humsaya Welfare Society, working with men having sex with men (MSM), got 11 points, while People’s Health Organisation, involved with taxi drivers, scored 10.

Source : DNA