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Missionaries
misuse ICAR funds
From Our Correspondent
The Holy Cross Krishi Vigyan Kendra (HCKVK), a Hazaribagh-based agriculture
research centre, financed by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research
(ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, has attracted a lot of
media limelight for its dubious activities. Reports in the local media
point out that sexual harassment of girl students, discrimination
against Hindu workers and exploitation of workers have become order
of the day in the institution, run by a Christian Association -the
Holy Cross. The institution has also been found guilty in a case of
insulting the national flag. Reports received from Hazaribagh reveal
that the HCKVK had been violating the Employees Provident Fund Act
since 15 years. The PF was regularly deducted from the employees'
salary but the amount was not deposited with the regional PF office.
The management of the Kendra kept it in its own account with a local
branch of Canara Bank. It is also reported that the management misused
the amount for funding dubious activities in the city and even the
annual interest on this amount was not given to the employees. Former
BJP MP Shri Mahavir Lal Vishwakarma in a complaint to the Union Labour
Minster Shri Satya Narayan Jatia has demanded an inquiry into the
violation of the PF Act as well as in the issue of exploitation of
workers.
The local labour organisations have also demanded immediate inquiry
into this episode and punishment to the guilty. This the second time
the HCKVK has been alleged to be involved in nefarious activities.
Earlier, the Kendra was found guilty in a case of insulting the national
flag. According to reports, the agriculture scientists were prevented
to hoist the national flag in the premises of the research centre
on the Independence Day in 1989. Following directions from the Union
Home Ministry, the then Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha had
conducted an inquiry into the incident and found the Kendra guilty
of insulting the national flag. The Deputy Commissioner had also recommended
the expulsion of two workers of the society - Sister Rozi and Sister
Sajita but no action has been taken so far in this regard by the institution.
Hazaribagh General Secretary of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Nandu Prasad
has alleged the exploitation of dalits and inhuman behavior on the
part of the director of the research centre. "Workers belonging to
dalit communities are harassed here to the extent that they leave
the job because of exploitation. Some members of the organisation
has also threatened to implicate the employees in false police cases."
Shri Prasad also alleged the involvement of several officials of the
ICAR in shielding the illegal activities of the HCKVK including the
violation of PF Act and non-implementing of the Fifth Pay Commission
that has been implemented by all the agriculture research centers
run by the ICAR.
In a written complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh, the
BSP leader has also alleged the involvement of HCKVK Director, Sister
Josline in the sexual harassment of girl students who come from nearby
villages to have vocational training in the institution and stay in
the centre's hostel. He cited an incident of May 5, 2000 when the
security guard of the centre along with another youth dragged a tribal
girl student in the room and sexually exploited her for hours. When
the incident was brought to the notice of the director, she sacked
the victim from the hostel instead of taking any action against the
security guard. In this regard a group of several students had also
written to the Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh in June this year demanding
an action against the director for providing patronage to the culprits.
Keeping in view the large scale violation of law and misuse of the
institution on the part of the Holy Cross, Shri Nandu Prasad has demanded
the District Administration to take over the management of the institution
to put a check on the illegal activities of the so-called religious
organisation. Meanwhile, the former BJP MP from Hazaribagh, Shri Yadunath
Pandey, in a letter to the Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, has
alleged that the HCKVK was not functioning as per the direction and
rules of the ICAR. Since 1985 the Scientists Advisory Committee of
the centre has met only once (in 1998). This committee is expected
to meet every year to monitor the expenses of the institution preventing
any misuse of funds by the management. Shri Pandey has demanded an
immediate inquiry into the autocratic functioning of the HCKVK.
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