12-21-2007, 02:38 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>After AIIMS, Minister out to wreck Red Cross </b>
Pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
After AIIMS, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is now in the thick of accusations for subverting the autonomy of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) of which he happens to be the chairman.
Sources in the Red Cross claimed a number of key appointments made in the recent past smack of "evil designs" to wreck the autonomy of the prestigious non-Government organisation known for its work to help humanity in distress.
Sources said that the relatives of Ramadoss' ministerial staff are being thrust upon the society in violation of established statutory norms. "Lakshmi Moorthy, wife of Ramadoss' Officer on Special Duty (OSD) DS Moorthy, was appointed as the administrator, disaster management, IRCS, without taking managing body into confidence," they claimed.
"Her appointment along with many others was made in blatant violation of the norms of IRCS. Even the director level officials have been appointed against consolidated salaries, something unheard of in the society," well-placed sources said.
"Instead of bringing transparency and efficiency in the functioning of IRCS, Ramadoss seems to be encouraging the <span style='color:red'>plundering of Indian Red Cross, and he is getting complete co-operation from the society's Secretary General SP Aggarwal," </span>they added.
Sources said that at least 20 appointments including that of the joint secretary had been made in violation of the established norms. "Without seeking the statutory permission of managing body, selection committees are formed arbitrarily to bring in favoured ones," they said.
"There are no statutory provisions in the IRCS to appoint director-level officials against a consolidated salary, but several such appointments have been made.
<b>Two such directors have been appointed in the finance department at hefty salaries, and they have literally no work to do,"</b> sources said
Sources said<b> Ammamalai, the son-in-law of one of Ramadoss' assistant personal secretaries, was given the job as co-ordinator in the Disaster Management department. </b>"We have a Joint Secretary in the society from the Union Health Ministry on deputation, so far unparalled in the IRCS," they added.
DS Moorthy, OSD to the Minister and husband of Lakshmi, denied the charges that she was given the job after the Ministry's intervention. "She was the most qualified among all applicants, and hence her selection was totally merit-based. It is a different matter that she did not take up the job," Moorthy claimed.
Moorthy, however, refused to comment on other charges involving Ramadoss and other ministerial staff. "I cannot speak on behalf of others. I do not know about the charges you are talking about. I told you what I knew," he added.
Sources said the real problems of IRCS started from the day when Aggarwal was thrust upon the IRCS without the concurrence of managing body comprising 18 members from across the country.
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"A special Screening Committee was set up solely to appoint the current incumbent as the Secretary General. Why the managing body was not taken into confidence in appointing the chief executive of the society," a senior IRCS official said.
According to him, the managing body of IRCS recommends as many as three names to the President of India to be appointed as the Secretary General.
<b>"It was a three-member screening committee comprising AA Hai and former AIIMS Director PK Dave which recommended just one name to be appointed to the top slot. It was done with the tacit support of the Union Health Minister,"</b> the official claimed.
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Pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
After AIIMS, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is now in the thick of accusations for subverting the autonomy of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) of which he happens to be the chairman.
Sources in the Red Cross claimed a number of key appointments made in the recent past smack of "evil designs" to wreck the autonomy of the prestigious non-Government organisation known for its work to help humanity in distress.
Sources said that the relatives of Ramadoss' ministerial staff are being thrust upon the society in violation of established statutory norms. "Lakshmi Moorthy, wife of Ramadoss' Officer on Special Duty (OSD) DS Moorthy, was appointed as the administrator, disaster management, IRCS, without taking managing body into confidence," they claimed.
"Her appointment along with many others was made in blatant violation of the norms of IRCS. Even the director level officials have been appointed against consolidated salaries, something unheard of in the society," well-placed sources said.
"Instead of bringing transparency and efficiency in the functioning of IRCS, Ramadoss seems to be encouraging the <span style='color:red'>plundering of Indian Red Cross, and he is getting complete co-operation from the society's Secretary General SP Aggarwal," </span>they added.
Sources said that at least 20 appointments including that of the joint secretary had been made in violation of the established norms. "Without seeking the statutory permission of managing body, selection committees are formed arbitrarily to bring in favoured ones," they said.
"There are no statutory provisions in the IRCS to appoint director-level officials against a consolidated salary, but several such appointments have been made.
<b>Two such directors have been appointed in the finance department at hefty salaries, and they have literally no work to do,"</b> sources said
Sources said<b> Ammamalai, the son-in-law of one of Ramadoss' assistant personal secretaries, was given the job as co-ordinator in the Disaster Management department. </b>"We have a Joint Secretary in the society from the Union Health Ministry on deputation, so far unparalled in the IRCS," they added.
DS Moorthy, OSD to the Minister and husband of Lakshmi, denied the charges that she was given the job after the Ministry's intervention. "She was the most qualified among all applicants, and hence her selection was totally merit-based. It is a different matter that she did not take up the job," Moorthy claimed.
Moorthy, however, refused to comment on other charges involving Ramadoss and other ministerial staff. "I cannot speak on behalf of others. I do not know about the charges you are talking about. I told you what I knew," he added.
Sources said the real problems of IRCS started from the day when Aggarwal was thrust upon the IRCS without the concurrence of managing body comprising 18 members from across the country.
Â
"A special Screening Committee was set up solely to appoint the current incumbent as the Secretary General. Why the managing body was not taken into confidence in appointing the chief executive of the society," a senior IRCS official said.
According to him, the managing body of IRCS recommends as many as three names to the President of India to be appointed as the Secretary General.
<b>"It was a three-member screening committee comprising AA Hai and former AIIMS Director PK Dave which recommended just one name to be appointed to the top slot. It was done with the tacit support of the Union Health Minister,"</b> the official claimed.
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