Kashmir Red Cross accused of swindling public money
SRINAGAR: A group of people affiliated with the state branch of the Indian Red Cross (IRC) Wednesday blamed the organisation of swindling public money.
Nepotism and corruption has crept into the IRC while authorities are in slumber and are not taking measures to check the menace. A delegation called at the office of a local news agency CNS.
The delegation informed that an under graduate was recently appointed as Programme Manager (PM) given the fact that the official in question is closely related with the current General Secretary. The Programme Manager who was recruited without following any procedure has been running a Trust namely Inner Call along with the General Secretary of State Branch of IRC, the delegation said. It was this proximity that helped the fellow to secure the post of PM in the State Branch of IRC. We are surprised how an under graduate was appointed as PM while the post graduate students were shown the door.
The delegation informed that for a seven day tour to New Delhi, the illegally appointed Programme Manager withdrew Rs 40,400 as Travel Allowance out of which he paid Rs 11,800 as bribe to a travel agent.
Not only this, the Branch gave a Website contract to Ardent Marketing Solutions and surprisingly the owner of this company is the Programme Manager himself and he runs this company with a fictitious name to swindle the money of the Indian Red Cross, they said.
They appealed higher authorities especially the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Principal Secretary to Governor to look into the matter. We have a documental proof of every misdeed that had and has been taking place in the State Branch of Indian Red Cross in Kashmir Valley, they said.
When contacted the incumbent Programme Manager termed all the allegations baseless and said that there are some people who are hell bent to malign the image of the State Branch of Indian Red Cross. My tour to Delhi was had a proper sanction, he said. Its true I received the contract of building the website for the Red Cross but that was prior to my appointment Besides, proper procedure was followed for my recruitment.
General Secretary IRC, J&K, Roma Wani said that Red Cross is not a government department but an NGO that manages its affairs through donations from various sources. There are some disgruntled elements who want to defame Red Cross, she said adding that nobodys job in the Red Cross is permanent and nobody gets special treatment.
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