Dimapur Network of People Living with HIV&AIDS (DPN+) has informed that it has decided to withdraw its affiliation to the Nagaland Network of People Living with HIV&AIDS (NNP+).
In a press release, DNP+ general secretary Visietsino said the general body of DNP+ resolved to observe a peaceful agitation at its office premises on March 1 to highlight their plight and grievances. Citing several reasons for its decision to withdraw affiliation, DPN+ accused NNP+ of imposing elections before completion of tenure of the present governing board, which, it described was “totally against the constitution of our organization.”
Stating that DNP+ was a community-based organization, it said neither NNP+ Kohima nor any other NGO can therefore directly be involved in selection and election of its board members. If needed, DPN+ said they could be invited for technical support. However, it added that they did not have any say or voting rights in the election process as the decisions of DNP+ general body was final and binding pertaining to all decisions of the organisation.
It also maintained that DNP+ members did not in any way “recognize the use of dictatorial powers” and functions against them by NNP+ under the observation of NNagaDao and DAPCU, which, it said, was “totally out of their jurisdiction.”
DNP+ said that its board members were terminated from membership “without any valid reasons” through NNP+ letter to the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur dated 02/02/2016. The letter, it said was “incidentally” received by DNP+ 16th only on February 17, 2016, after the district administration’s order dated February 16, 2016 authorizing formation of a new governing board under the aegis of NNP+ to hold office for the remaining period of the present tenure, which ends in October 2016.
Terming as “highly mischievous” the NNP+ letter of termination of the present governing board, DPN+ said the letter was intended to misguide the district administration so the judgment of the authorities would be in their favour. DNP+ said its general body therefore totally “rejects the actions of NNP+ in this manner.” DNP+ also stated that has not received any funds for TI project from the month of July 2015 till date.
It said that after so many months of hardships the government released funds for two months to all the project implementers. However, it alleged that the funds meant for DNP+ was held up by NSACS under pressure from NNP+ and NNagaDao causing “extreme financial and mental hardships on the staff and their families of DNP+.”
DNP+ said the general body has therefore resolved to withdraw its affiliation from NNP+ until such time the president of NNP+ Lanu Aier stepped down.