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

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
August 15 for the period January 1 through June 30. Without a balance sheet and income
statement, the association has no way of knowing if they are a financially sound organization.
Also, management controls are weakened whenever there is a lapse in submission of essential
financial reports.
Recommendation 66: Embassy New Delhi should direct the Mumbai American Recreation
Association and Chennai American Support Association to submit a balance sheet and income
statement for the period January 1 through June 30, 2010. (Action: Embassy New Delhi)
Consulate General Hyderabad
Consulate General Hyderabad has no formal or Department-sanctioned American
employee recreational association, and there has been no community liaison office to arrange
leisure activities for consulate staff and families. In the absence of structured programs, an
informal group of consular officers formed to arrange social activities for themselves and the
consulate community. They have raised funds for some of these activities, however, which
suggests that the initial informal group has evolved to a more formal organization. In the interest
of accountability and adherence to Department policies, the informal group should be converted
into an employee association that is recognized and regulated by the Office of Commissary and
Recreation Affairs.
Recommendation 67: Embassy New Delhi, in coordination with the the Bureau of
Administration, should establish a formal American employees association at Consulate General
Hyderabad that could offer recreational and social activities in compliance with Department of
State policies and regulations. (Action: Embassy New Delhi, in coordination with A)
Community Liaison Office
The community liaison officer (CLO) coordinators and their assistants strive to serve the
diverse demographic groups that comprise the mission. For instance, the large number of ELOs
means that CLO coordinators must be sensitive to the needs of first-tour employees of all ages,
including some who have never before worked overseas and others who joined the Department
for second careers. The CLO coordinators at each post work to ensure there are activities that
appeal to all groups. The DCM and consuls general at each post support and participate in CLO
activities. Consulates General Kolkata and Hyderabad gained approval for new CLO coordinator
positions this year; until recently, they were the only consulates general without U.S. familymember
CLO coordinators.
CLO activities and outreach at Consulates General Mumbai and Chennai received high
scores on the OIG questionnaire and ICASS surveys. In Mumbai, a “Take Your Child to Work
Day” program for the children of American and LE staff employees was very successful. For
New Delhi, most employees were satisfied with CLO activities; however, the social sponsor and
orientation programs received low scores. The CLO assistant reported difficulty in recruiting
social sponsors. At a post of more than 400 U.S. direct-hire employees, fewer than 10 responded
to a recent call for volunteers. In some cases, sponsors did not show up at the airport to meet
newcomers. The communities at the consulates general, which are much smaller and less
impersonal, are more cohesive and do not have this problem.
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