Dimapur, August 21 : Department of Social Welfare (DoSW) and Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) held a joint meeting at directorate’s chamber on August 19 to discuss on the issue of anomalies which was carried in local media.
NPRAAF in a press note said the Director with department officials were informed of the anomalies raised by the Forum and that the department agreed to take up the matter seriously and fix responsibilities.
NPRAAF said the director also agreed to its demand that non- functioning NGOs be identified and ceased from funding.
The NPRAAF demanded that it should be made mandatory for all NGOs who receive funds from department to submit annual report.
“NGOs receiving grants should be informed through an official letter and print media by the department giving atleast 45 days to collect the grant. It deems fit that the department specifies the reason of disproportionate funding of NGOs through notification.”
NPRAAF said this would encourage healthy competition amongst the NGOs in their endeavor for a cause.
It said, funds should be disbursed strictly on the Govt. of India’s guidelines and no special committee should override the standard norms as in the past.
The Forum said, all grants should be disbursed through an account payee or direct transfer to the beneficiary NGOs current account by the department.
It said, the registration of the NGOs from the home department alone should not be the criteria to qualify for grants.
“The department should also spell out other eligibility criteria to maintain fairness and optimum utilisation of the grants. The department should be made transparent the eligibility criteria of NGOs receiving special funding.”
The Forum demanded that any NGO ceasing to receive funds from the department be notified the reason of its ineligibility or continuance of funding and not abruptly stop without assigning reason.
“There should be annual meeting of all the funded NGOs with the Social Welfare Department for better coordination with the department and efficacy of NGOs.”
Meanwhile, the NPRAAF appreciated the Director of Social Welfare T. Merangtsuba Aier for taking action against one of its staff for deducting percentage from Grant -in- Aid (GIA) of the NGOs. The NPRAAF was represented by its president and 6 officials.
