NACO in trouble for circulating booklets without permission

NACO may be in trouble for sending copies of a booklet praising India's fight against AIDS to its state units.

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) may be in trouble for sending copies of 'India Committed to Zero HIV' to its state AIDS control organisations despite orders on the contrary.

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"On May 18, in a written order to NACO, Sushma Swaraj had said that the distribution of the booklet should be stopped till it got the approval of the new minister, but copies of it were still sent to the state units. The Health Ministry has ordered an internal finance division inquiry to find out why they were distributed without approval from anyone in the Health Ministry," says Health Secretary JVR Prasada Rao.

"The inquiry will also look into who funded and published the book," he adds.

HT reported on Tuesday that India's permanent representative to Geneva Hardeep Puri had impounded copies of the book meant for distribution at the World Health Assembly in May. In a written note, Sushma had then asked NACO project director Meenakshi Datta Ghosh to get clearance from the new minister before circulating the book further. Still, copies of the book praising India's battle against AIDS were sent for circulation to the state AIDS control organisations.