NRI forum mismanaged, say members

Many accuse officials of misusing funds, but president says members' apathy forces committee to be inactive.

Members of an NRI forum started over two years ago feel cheated out of their money by the forum authorities, while the forum officials maintain the forum is inactive because its members lack interest.

The Pathanamthitta District NRI Forum — UAE was inaugurated in October 2002 with 67 members, according to the forum president, PG Mathew, a businessman.

Executive members were asked to pay Dh800 and another 200 people paid Dh50 to become members. Since then, only four meetings were held. For more than two years, no meeting has been held.

An executive member who did not want to be named said that beside the membership money, funds were collected from members to conduct the inauguration that took place at Al Nasr Leisureland.

"I don't have the exact figures, but the inauguration cost approximately Dh20,000 and there should be nearly Dh50,000 in balance. There have been no meetings for the past year. The other members and I were under the impression that it would do good things."

"Most people wanted to invest in projects in Kerala worth crores (millions) of rupees, but now people are demoralised. The monopoly by the president, vice-president, general secretary and treasurer over the usage of the funds has left people very upset. I don't see any solution in sight. Perhaps what they need is adverse publicity."

Projects shelved

Another executive member, Biju John, a sales executive, claimed that funds belonging to the forum were misused for personal gain by the forum officials.

"Politicians were brought in from Kerala and sent back by the forum officials with expensive gifts so that their own businesses would benefit in the future. We joined the association to develop business and infrastructure in our own land, but nothing has happened."

"There were many plans and proposals for projects, such as buying land in the Pathanamthitta area to build a shopping and sports complex. All of these ideas and plans have been shelved because the top officials of the forum are not ready to call a meeting. We need a meeting to decide what to do. If nothing is possible, then members should be given their money back."

Executive member Jiji Varghese also accused the president, vice-president, general secretary and treasurer of mismanagement.

"Besides membership fees, large amounts of money were collected from both members and non-members as sponsors, main sponsors and co-sponsors. The aim of the forum was to set up a club in Pathanamthitta and also help the poor."

"For almost two years, there has been no meeting. Whenever we call these people, they say ‘okay, we will meet', but most of the time they do not answer their phones."

"I consider us lucky because an earlier project tabled at one of the few meetings we had involved more than one crore and money was pledged by members. At least we didn't lose that."

"There are many such organisations here. I think there should be some government control. These associations and organisations should be banned."

Forum president Mathew claims member disinterest was responsible for the absence of meetings in the past year.

"For more than one year, there have been no meetings because everyone is always busy. We have called many people, but no one turned up. I myself tried to call people but sometimes they were out of town or they were busy and could not attend."

Lack of interest

He claimed that he did not have email addresses of the members as most of them did not have an email address.

"Two hundred and fifty membership forms were taken and only 67 were completed and returned with payment. People who said they would introduce others never did. In fact, many people who promised money for the inauguration never paid. All these people forced me to be the president. I was not interested, and afterwards everyone was busy."

"All the records will prove me right. They are all with the general secretary."

When Gulf News tried to contact the general secretary, his mobile was switched off and Mathew claimed to have no other number.