No pay, no work, say NGOs working with sex workers

With crores of rupees stuck in red tape, nearly 58 NGOs in Telangana have brought their activities to a halt

Non-Governmental Organisations in the State that take up Targeted Interventions (TI) for HIV/AIDS among female sex workers (FSW) and MSM (men having sex with men) have brought such activities to a halt.

It is the delay in release of funds from the State AIDS Control Society (SACS), which in turn gets monetary support from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), that is to blame.

Salaries unpaid

Nearly 58 NGOs involved in TI activities have stopped work following the fund cru-nch. They say the salaries of close to 2,000 of their emplo-yees for the past seven months are yet unpaid. The SACS is yet to release funds to the tune of Rs.16 crore, they claim.

NGOs under the Telangana State Targeted Intervention Partners Forum for HIV/AIDS are responsible for the distribution of condoms, counselling, facilitating health check-ups for high-risk groups, visiting hot spots and counselling FSWs and MSMs on the importance of safe sex practices.

SACS officials acknowledge the delay in releasing funds. Till a year ago, NACO funds would reach them directly, they say. The situation has since changed.

“These days, NACO funds go to Union Health Ministry which then sends the same to the treasury, which in turn releases the funds to State treasuries. At this moment, funds to the tune of Rs.42 crore are stuck in the treasury wing of AP,” said SACS Joint Director (TI) Kailash Aditya.

A typical NGO involved in TI consists of peer educators and outreach workers who visit hot spots of MSMs and FSWs, counsellors, managers and other administrative staff.

Each of the 58 NGOs is to receive anywhere between Rs.12 lakh and Rs.15 lakh.

“We are unable to pay salaries for the past seven months. Recently, we organised a dharna that forced authorities to release a part of the funds. The health authorities are yet to release over 75 per cent of the funds. We have completely stopped work from January 12,” said Kalyan, an office-bearer of Suraksha Society, a Hyderabad NGO.

NACO funds go to Union Health Ministry which then sends the same to the treasury, which in turn releases the funds to State treasuries. At this moment, funds to the tune of Rs.42 crore are stuck in the treasury wing of AP

Kailash Aditya

SACS Joint Director (TI)

We are unable to pay salaries for the past seven months. Health authorities are yet to release over 75 per cent of the funds. We have completely stopped work from January 12 till funds are released

Kalyan

NGOrepresentative