Andhra Pradesh - Ongole   

UK organisation accuses NGO of misusing Rs. 6 cr

Special Correspondent

Money was sent to run homes for the benefit of disabled children

TAKING STOCK: Enable general secretary Colin Horte addressing a press conference in Ongole on Friday.

ONGOLE: Enable, a UK-based social organisation working in India, has alleged that an NGO has misappropriated the aid of Rs. 6 crores given to it in the last five years to run homes for the benefit of disabled children at Ongole.

Speaking to newspersons here on Friday, Enable general secretary Colin Horte wanted the Registrar of Societies to cancel the registration of the NGO, seize its records, take over the buildings, vehicles etc and revive the activities of the two homes at Ongole for the benefit of 230 children.

He also sought an independent audit of the accounts of the society to ascertain the extent of misappropriation of funds. Expressing concern over the large-scale misappropriation of funds, he wanted action against the society to instil confidence among foreign organisations providing funds for several NGOs in India.

Started in 1995

Alison Davis floated Enable in England in 1995 to mobilise donations to take up social activities in India through the NGO and provided 7,30,000 British pounds (equivalent to Rs. 6 crores in Indian currency) till now.

A priest launched the NGO to help rehabilitate disabled children at Kanigiri and later shifted his activities to Ongole. The society has received substantial aid from Enable in the last two years to provide shelter, food and education to some 230 disabled children through its two homes at Ongole.

Falsified accounts

Mr. Harte said that they were releasing funds for construction of buildings, vehicles on the basis of receipt of accounts and requests from the NGO. But they came to know that the auditor was providing falsified accounts. So he came here in January to verify the accounts but to his chagrin the NGO refused him access to accounts. A cursory look at the accounts showed him variations with the accounts provided to Enable before. He alleged that the accounts were falsified and tampered.

As Enable had provided 99 per cent of the funds to the NGO in the last two years, he filed a complaint with the police to verify the records. He came to know that it had used the funds for constructing palatial buildings at Ongole and Bangalore without its knowledge or permission and used them for purposes other than relating to disabled children.

He expressed concern that following the controversy the NGO had closed the homes and abandoned the disabled children. He wanted the Collector to see that the homes were revived immediately.

`Receiving threats'

Saying that he had been receiving intimidating calls and mail, Mr. Horte said that he would not be cowed down by such threats and Enable would pursue the matter to its logical end.

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UK organisation accuses NGO of misusing Rs. 6 cr

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