The Hindu

Mangalore, Jun 13: Representatives of the NGO Task Force, a sub-committee of 45 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) walked out of an orientation workshop convened by Asian Development Bank (ADB) here on Monday alleging that the bank was imposing its policies on the country.

The workshop was organised by the Office of the Special Project Facilitator, Department of External Relations, ADB. The topic was "The consultation of the ADB accountability mechanism and ADB's public communications policy."

The committee members alleged that the ADB was misleading people by changing its policies. The representatives led by Kateel Dinesh Pai walked out alleging that the ADB would not own up accountability if there were lapses in the project funded by it. They took objection to the absence of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure and Development Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) officials in the workshop. The KUIDFC is the implementing agency of KUDCEMP.

Cindy Malvicini, Head, Public Information and Disclosure Unit, Department of External Relations, ADB, said the bank's public communications policy which contained disclosure and exchange of information had come into effect in 2005.

Karin Oswald, Senior Project Facilitation Specialist, Office of the Special Project Facilitator, said that the ADB had opened a complaint cell with regard to its projects in December 2003.