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