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Author: Subodh Ghildiyal
Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 4, 2005
Introduction: Mahatma Gandhi's association with the Harijan Sevak Sangh had put the government in a dilemma though inspectors indicted two schools run by it in Orissa for below-par performance and false claims
The government has finally bitten the Gandhi
bullet. After months of dithering, the ministry of social justice has stopped
the funding for a project run by the Harijan Sevak Sangh, while a decision
is in the works on another such ill run project.
The two schools for SC children in Barchana and Nachuni in Orissa were indicted
by an inspection report for below-par performance and false claims.
Though not a big decision to make, Mahatma Gandhi's association with the HSS,
which he launched to fight untouchability, put the ministry of social justice
in a dilemma over the action to be taken against the established voluntary
organisation. The inspecting and the reviewing authority recommended blacklisting,
but for any government to do that seemed improbable.
The ministry had to tread carefully as Gandhians threatened protest. The issue
reached the Prime Minister's Office as Nirmala Deshpande, noted Gandhian and
Rajya Sabha member, shot off a letter to the Sonia Gandhi-chaired NAC.
Finally, an unfavourable decision for HSS has been taken. Ministry sources
said the school project in Barchana had been closed, while a decision on Nachuni
was pending. But HSS may still have eked out a concession.
Normally, the ministry blacklists the NGO since it recognises the central
body and not individual projects. But in the case of the HSS, the projects
have been single out. While conceding that an exception may have been made,
an official said such a big NGO could not be blacklisted for two small projects.
Faced with a tricky situation, sources said fresh guidelines were being evolved
on blacklisting of NGOs.
The case was pending since 2002, with the final inspection in 2004 giving
a negative report. Pending a decision, a war was on between the ministry and
the HSS
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