EMN
Dimapur, April 16
Pigued by the complacency of the State government to HIV/AIDS program, the Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (NNagaDAO) said, it is unclear whether the NGOs/CBOs invested in the HIV/AIDS intervention program will be refunded for the fiscal year 2015-16 by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) or Nagaland State government (Nagaland State AIDS Control Society).
NNagaDAO President Abou Mere in a statement said, “It will be very unfortunate to lose trained personnel, as resources are now very limited to train new personnel.”
He said, NACO has asked the Nagaland State government to provide 20% of the total budget as State contribution to the HIV program. It also informed that these NGOs/CBOs have signed a contract with NACO/NSACS as per World Bank guidelines and implemented programs as per the MoU of the Annual Action Plan 2015-16.
Whatever may be the barriers, the NNagaDao expressed concern for the “sense of complacency” with which the Nagaland State government has responded to the situation.
The NNagaDAO reminded that the Constitution of India guarantees the Protection of life and liberty (Article 21) Equality before law (article (14) Non-discrimination (Article 14&15). In that, the State Government has the “constitutional obligation” to take legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional & other measures for realization of the right to health, making sure that “there is no violation of the fundamental right (Right to life/health) of any person, particularly when he/she belongs to the weaker section of the community.”
Moreover, it is “critical” to continue and sustain comprehensive efforts with “un-interrupted funding” in response to HIV/AIDS, increasing the coverage of targeted interventions, treatment and care services.
“Evidence worldwide shows that without sufficient funding and effective intervention, the number of new infections is bound to climb up. We will be recreating an epidemic and putting at risk the gains made over the last decade, face health and economic implications as well, if State Government does not intervene with all sincerity and provide political leadership and action,” reiterated NNagaDao.
The State Government, asserted the NNagaDao, is “duty bound to ensure that the human rights of key populations/vulnerable groups and those most affected by HIV are upheld.” It stated, the Nagaland State Government should “facilitate to address policy barriers and take measures and ensure that it do not exploit its citizen.”
The NNagaDAO Executive board, advisers and chief functionaries of NGOs and CBOs had an emergency meeting on April 15 in the Regional Resource & Training Centre (Kripa Foundation) Kohima where it resolved to take up the issue with the Governor, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of the Government of Nagaland before “any democratic peaceful protest and civil disobedience action” is taken for the “non release of funds.”
