IMPHAL, October 9: Expressing serious concern over the frequent change of the project director (PD) of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS), the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) and MACS Partner NGOs Forum (MPNF) has urged the concerned authority to stop discriminating people living with HIV & AIDS and other marginalised communities through frequent change of PDs.
In a press communique signed by president of CoNE RK Nalinikanta, it has questioned the motive of the concerned authority behind the frequent change of PD, who otherwise should remain in the post if the HIV prevention programme in the State is to be made successful in the interest of the people infected and affected.
While pointing out that the main reason behind the poor implementation of HIV programme in the State is the frequent change of PD, the release urged the State government to change such attitude if at all it sincerely intends to control the spread of HIV in the State.
`What will be the fate of the State if such trends continues`, it added.
The release also informed that no PD of MACS has served the society for a year during the last 4/5 years. There have been instances when a person who has been assigned the post of PD MACS is released within a month`™s time.
`No sooner a PD becomes versed with the programmes of HIV and is all set to implement the programmes, the PD is found transferred and replaced by another official completely ignorant on the issue.`
`Under such circumstances, it would not be possible to implement HIV programmes in the state properly`, the statement charged.
Urging the government not to repeat its mistake over and over again, the statement also suggested that it would be a wise step on the part of the concerned authority to keep intact a Project Director like Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia who is well versed with the existing programmes implemented by MACS, who not only understands the importance of community involvement in the on-going HIV programme, but also keeps close coordination with the implementing NGO partners. It also appeals to the state government to revoke the order of transferring Shailesh Kumar Chourasia from the post of PD MACS in the larger interest of the marginalised communities.