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Embassy New Delhi, India and Constituent Posts - OIG - US ...

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the regional security officer is working with school administrators to guide them through the<br />

soft-target funding process.<br />

Employee Associations<br />

<strong>New</strong> <strong>Delhi</strong> American Community Support Association<br />

The American Community Support Association (ACSA) in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Delhi</strong> has a dynamic<br />

board chairperson <strong>and</strong> is well managed <strong>and</strong> financially strong, with experienced managers who<br />

have considerable expertise in the hospitality industry. The business manager has a certified<br />

public accountant equivalent. ACSA uses an in-house software program for ordering commissary<br />

stock replenishment, <strong>and</strong> both the board <strong>and</strong> management monitor inventory. With annual<br />

revenue exceeding $3 million, the association was able to fund a $980,000 renovation project at<br />

the ACSA restaurant. The primary issue with ACSA is the need to establish better controls on<br />

purchases of alcoholic beverages <strong>and</strong> tobacco. Although the commissary keeps ration control<br />

cards for each member, the staff does not routinely monitor records <strong>and</strong> notify individuals who<br />

exceed their quotas. The <strong>OIG</strong> team reviewed the liquor <strong>and</strong> tobacco purchase records <strong>and</strong> found<br />

that more than 20 percent of ACSA customers exceeded their monthly rations.<br />

Recommendation 64: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Delhi</strong>, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration,<br />

should direct the American Community Support Association to monitor <strong>and</strong> enforce monthly<br />

liquor <strong>and</strong> tobacco quotas at the embassy commissary. (Action: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Delhi</strong>, in<br />

coordination with A)<br />

Mumbai American Recreation Association<br />

The Mumbai American Recreation Association (MARA) is operating on a shoestring,<br />

with financial assets amounting to only $400 worth of <strong>India</strong>n rupees at the local Bank of<br />

America, <strong>and</strong> $5,000 in a U.S. dollar account in the State Department credit union. It has a board<br />

of directors, <strong>and</strong> volunteers from the community help support ongoing MARA operations.<br />

Commissary property assets include 3 refrigerators <strong>and</strong> freezers, an inventory of 20 cases of<br />

wine, plus some liquor stocks scattered around three locations. There is a fully equipped fitness<br />

center under MARA operation. The new consulate compound has designated space for a<br />

commissary <strong>and</strong> fitness center, <strong>and</strong> MARA plans to hire a manager for the commissary after<br />

relocating to the new consulate compound. The <strong>OIG</strong> team believes it advisable for MARA to<br />

develop a business plan <strong>and</strong> revised charter defining the scope of the services <strong>and</strong> commissary<br />

operations prior to the move into the new consulate compound.<br />

Informal Recommendation 33: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Delhi</strong> should direct the Mumbai<br />

American Recreation Association to prepare a business plan prior to the move into the<br />

new consulate compound.<br />

Chennai American Support Association<br />

The Chennai American Support Association is better organized than the Mumbai<br />

association, with a manager <strong>and</strong> two employees. Liquor is the primary product sold in the<br />

commissary, but there is also a concessionaire agreement with a vendor to provide locally<br />

available food <strong>and</strong> snacks for the convenience of members. The association purchases most of its<br />

73<br />

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