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Olso, March 08,
2010 -- Six immigrant organizations in Oslo are deprived of
basic support in the past two years. The concerned
department of Oslo local government has started to check the
documents of the organisations including the membership
lists.
Norwegian daily
Aftenposten in a series of articles reported in detail about
the integration support which often goes to the ethnic-based
organizations.
Six of the
organisations have been deprived of the support due to
allegedly serious deficiencies in the reports and accounts.
These associations had received basic support and project
support of total of NOK 2.5 million by the City of Oslo in
past.
Special adviser
in units of diversity and integration in Oslo (EMI),
Elisabeth Appa Beveney checks all documents and membership
lists of immigrant organizations those receive basic support
from EMI. She will also verify the basis for other project
support.
More Controls.
In the last year
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was assigned to investigate the
support to the Pakistan Welfare Organization, and found
extensive rot in the member lists, bank transfers to
Pakistan and the payments without identification of
expenses. PwC recommended more controls. The investigation
was initiated after the exposure o TV2. Now every stone
turned. Specifically investigated basic support, which is
given on the basis of the number of members.
"We've had some
stories. Now we review surface materials for all awards. The
work started before the PwC report came. This has been
tightened through the years. We can also see the number of
grants” said Appa Beveney.
She stresses
that many are exemplary in their reports and accounts. Some
other organizations do not even touch with after trying for
half a year.
-There is much
about education in good accounting. The requirements are
high, perhaps higher than for other support to the Norwegian
organizations.
And we spend a
lot of resources on the controls, including physical visits,
"said Appa Beveney.
Appa Beveney in
recent visit to Norwegain Pakistani organition,
‘Islamabad/Rawalpindi Welfare Soceity Norway’ termed the
organistion one of the best the well updated documents. She
said, I am empressed by the societiey well organised system
and it is a good example for the others.
See results.
The six
organizations that lost funding in the last two years, can
get support again if they can get track of paperwork.
Although the Appa Beveney positive about the support to
immigrant organizations.
-Many come from
countries where it is not allowed to organize them. Here's
the organizational experience, and we see the results.
Minorities are in fact over-represented in political bodies
in Oslo, says special adviser.
Basic Support
for immigrant organizations are based on the number of
members.The auditor's declaration is required by paid
subscription to receive support. The six unions that lost
due to the support, are included: The Egyptian Association
in Norway
In Oslo alone
has 500 different immigrant organizations applied for public
assistance in one form or another over the past ten years.
Among these organizations are:
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54 Somali
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46 Pakistani
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14 Turkish
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13 Tamil
The number of
immigrant organizations is increasing, and today counts
approximately 1,000 organizations nationwide. Support is
provided both in the form of basic support related to the
number of members of the organization and various forms of
project support to the integration.
Millions of
public integration penny is over the years has been
allocated for the immigrants to preserve their national and
cultural distinctiveness: Vietnamese soccer league, tamil
radio, sporting events for Tamil children, Somali July,
Vietnamese New Year, Finnish Mother's Day, Somali flaggdag,
Polish children's club, Afghan-owned parties and gatherings
are some of the examples.
This has been a
deliberate policy by the Government. But from 2009 were
required to prioritize actions and activities that cut
across ethnic and national groups. But still the integration
support allocated to activities that are directed against
their own ethnic group. Examples are support for the
"Soldiers Day," for Vietnam veterans, and Albanian radio.
Critical
Aslam Ahsan is
one of those who have received the most support for
integration projects throughout the organization, "Resource
for Pakistani children. The organization is closed down. -I
find it very strange that the fourth-generation immigrants
to gain support for membership in an ethnic organization. If
you want to preserve their own culture, it is up to oneself.
It is not the state's task. Failure to maintain such
support, it seems, at least not integral. In my experience,
stop the activity of these ethnic organizations at the door,
"he says.
- Those who
allocate money to see whether such a project support
actually seems integral. Should be part of the Norwegian
society should participate in the Norwegian arenas, says
Ahsan. |
