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'NGOs are worse than government officials'

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

In the name of the rehabilitating cyclone-affected people of coastal Orissa, voluntary organisations have joined hands with state government officials to siphon off aid coming in from all over the world. That's the reality in cyclone-ravaged Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts. The aid is in the form of money as well as material.

During a recent visit to the worst-affected Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur, several people in Japa and Ambiki gram panchayats complained about the misuse of the money by non-government organisations in the name of reconstruction and rehabilitation work. "Except a few, most NGOs are virtually looting the money in the name of providing us with shelters," said Bhagwan Behra of Japa village. Similar voices were heard in other villages too.

According to Jagdish Pradhan, co-ordinator of Sahbhagi Vikash Abhiyan, they have proven themselves to be worse than government officials. "At least, the latter were forced to construct some houses. In case of the former, nothing has come up," he added.

For example, some NGOs had mooted the idea of constructing 'emergency temporary shelters' to combat the heat wave in summer, with funding from the United Nations Development Project. It was decided to construct about 150 such shelters. Each was to have an area of 600 square feet and cost Rs 30,000. However, four months down the line, nothing has materialised while millions have been spent.

Interestingly, the approval for the shelters came at the end of summer when the monsoon had almost arrived. So, from summer shelter it became a summer-cum-monsoon shelter. But nothing else happened.

Unlike government officials, the NGOs are accountable neither to the local people nor to those who fund them.

Till date, not a single house has been completed. "The NGOs may now suggest constructing winter shelters," Pradhan said sarcastically. He did not fail to mention that this was only one instance where millions of rupees were wasted in the name of cyclone rehabilitation work.

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