200 motorbikes and scooters worth
more than Rs 61 million, cars worth more than 49 million, 25.7* million
in laptops, 62.3* million for salaries
KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Nepal Red Cross Society
(NRCS) has been found splurging millions meant for earthquake victims
on administrative activities and the purchase of various luxury items
instead of channelizing the hefty amounts into the real tasks of
earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Documents obtained by Republica show that
NRCS has already spent Rs 245 million given by various donors for
reconstruction activities on salaries and allowances for its officials,
foreign trips, the setting up of a sophisticated office, and the
purchase of items like cars, motorbikes, scooters, computers, pen drives
and other accessories.
The documents show that NRCS has already spent Rs 62.3 million on salaries, honoriums for steering committee meetings and allowances. Sources say Nepal Red Cross spent much more than stated on a number of meetings and purchases.
The documents show that NRCS has already spent Rs 62.3 million on salaries, honoriums for steering committee meetings and allowances. Sources say Nepal Red Cross spent much more than stated on a number of meetings and purchases.
The humanitarian organization has been
found paying hefty amounts and without any fixed criteria to its office
bearers and staff working for its Emergency Response Operation (ERO)
unit. The unit runs various post-earthquake projects in the 14 most
quake-affected districts.
Chairman of NRCS Sanjeev Thapa has been
receiving Rs 125,000 as a monthly salary since the last one and half
years while General Secretary Dev Ratna Dhakwa has been receiving Rs
98,349 per month and Treasurer Devendra Bahadur Pradhan Rs 63,249.
Interestingly, NRCS has been paying Rs 40,000 to Bhatka Khawas, a member of NRCS's high powered committee formed to oversee reconstruction activities of the ERO unit, as a monthly salary even though he has been living in Canada for the last few months, according to a highly placed source at NRCS.
Interestingly, NRCS has been paying Rs 40,000 to Bhatka Khawas, a member of NRCS's high powered committee formed to oversee reconstruction activities of the ERO unit, as a monthly salary even though he has been living in Canada for the last few months, according to a highly placed source at NRCS.
Likewise, other staff working for the unit
at the central and district levels have also been receiving unusually
high salaries. A program manager receives up to Rs 121,500 monthly while
project coordinators are receiving Rs 101,500. The staffers have also
been given Dashain and other allowances. Around 70 staffers are working
at the central level of the ERO unit while more than five staffers have
been deployed at the district levels.
“Firstly, there is no salary standard for
staffers in the unit and the monthly salaries are unusually high. NRCS
officer bearers have been giving out salaries arbitrarily as a majority
of the staff are related to them one way or other,” an NRCS official
told Republic seeking anonymity, adding, “Chairman Thapa and other
officer bearers have hired relatives to the unit.”
Salary details obtained by Republica show
that there is a discrepancy in salary among officials in the unit
working in the same position.
Likewise, the documents also show that
Chairman Thapa has received Rs 250,000 as pocket money for his Geneva
visit and Rs 72,735 for a visit to Thailand, among others.
Similarly, NRCS has been found spenting Rs 49,084,100 for the purchase of cars, spare parts and insurance and also for hiring cars and vans during district visits by office bearers from the capital. The documents show that NRCS purchased over 10 cars. NRCS has purchased cars worth up to Rs 6,080,000. The documents shows that NRCS purchased two cars worth Rs 56,75,000, four cars worth Rs 3,395,000, 1 car worth Rs 3,065,000 and another worth Rs 1,065,000.
Similarly, NRCS has been found spenting Rs 49,084,100 for the purchase of cars, spare parts and insurance and also for hiring cars and vans during district visits by office bearers from the capital. The documents show that NRCS purchased over 10 cars. NRCS has purchased cars worth up to Rs 6,080,000. The documents shows that NRCS purchased two cars worth Rs 56,75,000, four cars worth Rs 3,395,000, 1 car worth Rs 3,065,000 and another worth Rs 1,065,000.
Similarly, NRCS has purchased over 200
motorbikes and scooters worth Rs 61,251,281 and Rs 429,219 worlth of
bicycles, and Rs 36,285,589 for purchasing trucks. The documents show
that the humanitarian organization has purchased motorbikes worth up to
Rs 480,000 for staffers.
NRCS has also spent Rs 25,766,138 for
laptop computers, Rs 4,032,122 for desktop computers, Rs 3,583,550 for
computer printers and Rs 373,816 for flash drivers, pen drives and power
backups.
Similarly, NRCS has spent Rs 998,338 for
purchasing multimedia optima projectors, Rs 423,217 for overhead
projectors and Rs 209,744 for various computer accessories.
“A huge amount of money issued in the name
of NRCS is being spent on salaries and various luxurious items.
Facilitates and salaries given to staffers overseeing reconstruction are
no less than for I/NGOs officials. It is unfortunate that the office
bearers are taking money meant for quake affected victims,” an official
said.
The official said that various donors have
provided Rs 9 billion to NRCS for reconstruction and rehabilitation
activities. “There hasn't been any real work on the ground. Red Cross is
busy buying expensive items for its headquarters in Kathmandu,” said a
highly placed official source.
Earlier, Republica had found Nepal Red Cross spending more than Rs. 7 million for a lavish meeting at a fancy hotel in Chitwan.
*Correctedhttp://www.myrepublica.com/news/12891
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