Ministry of Diaspora allots grants of millions to its employees: RA Control Chamber
This year RA Control Chamber inspected use of means allotted to RA Ministry of Diaspora from September 1, 2015 upon the budget program. According to the report issued by the Control Chamber (CC), in 2015 and 2016 state budget has allotted respectively AMD billion 35 million 188.8 thousand and AMD 1 billion 165 million 833.6 thousand to the Ministry of Diaspora.
Last year the Ministry economized AMD 25 million 686 thousand. For 78 staff units AMD 233 million 179 thousand salary has been planned, and the budget allotted AMD 7 million 477.5 more, however, throughout the year due to existent vacancies AMD 204 million 371.7 has been spent. Moreover, AMD 14 million 679.8 thousand was provided as premium and AMD 9 million 92 thousand was directed to the payment of contracted employees, i.e. premium AMD 192 thousand was given to each employee.
According to the CC premiums to the Ministry’s employees didn’t exceed triple of their official rate, however, in separate cases premiums have been allotted one-time.
Generally the Ministry was generous regarding premiums. Upon year’s results upon “Payments and premiums of employees” Article, economy of budget means by “Maintenance of the Ministry staff” program comprised AMD 12 million 513 thousand, by “Maintenance of the staff of the Minister” – 3 million 64.3 thousand, and as premium AMD 948.6 thousand has been provided to the contracted employees, and AMD 3 million 958.3—to civil servants.
In 2015 and in 2016 for development and provision of educational literature and supporting materials to Armenian educational institutions AMD 100 million has been allotted to the Ministry, from which: AMD 4 million was directed to expenditures of paying 2 contracted employees, included in the program. For storing the educational literature within the program, by violation the law on “State purchase,” an agreement on territory rent has been concluded with “Zangak-97” LLC with the rent payment amounting AMD 1.5 million.
AMD 14.4 million has been allotted to the Ministry for scientific and scientific-educational research throughout the last 2 years, and the Ministry has signed agreements with different scientific organizations and higher educational institutions for 12 researches, costing AMD 1.2 million each. However, a procedure hasn’t been developed by the Ministry for the assessment criteria of researches, as a result, for researches of different complicacy and volume the same amount has been paid.
For “Armenian Diaspora” yearbook AMD 8.2 million has been allotted to the Ministry for its publication. From 2 organizations participating in the bid winner was “Astghik bookstore” with the proposal amounting AMD 7 million 761.6thousand. 2100 yearbooks have been printed, however, 1025 yearbooks have been distributed in 2015 or 48.8%, and from the moment of inspection the balance comprised 1075 yearbooks, amounting AMD 3 million 976.3 thousand. Last year’s balance comprised 630 items.
In 2015 and 2016 within “Ari Tun” program by “Cognitive visits of Diaspora Armenian youth to Armenia” each year AMD 100 million has been allotted to “Armenia-Diaspora” SNCO. Last year 1100 Diaspora Armenian youth have visited Armenia. AMD 93.5 has been spent for implementation of the program and the rest was returned to state budget. This year the first stage was launched on June 12.
For preparation of Armenia-Diaspora collaboration TV programs, footages and broadcasting AMD 52.6 million has been allotted. Within it “Diaspora hour” (Spyurqi zham), “Ours” (meronq), “With the right of the successor” (zharangordi iravunqov), “Around the world” (ashkharhaspyur) TV programs have been broadcast, “Armenian Diaspora” film series was shot and publications in different media outlets have been implemented.
However, CC inspection uncovered that AMD 1 million 805.8 thousand was paid for the rent of the territory for SNCO in 2015. From 2016 employers of electronic daily newspaper and library was located in the territory of the Ministry building and the necessity of that expenditure was eliminated. Accordingly, AMD 1 million 805.8 should be returned to the state budget.
By Gayane Khachatryan
