- Jayaram Komati is facing allegations that he acted on his own in presenting a check to AP Government that included 1 crore TANA donations.
- Mr. Komati is still a Director at TANA, years after he was appointed as advisor to AP Government
AP Government’s special representative in North America, Mr. Jayaram Komati has landed into a controversy surrounding a donation to digital class room program. On Oct 20th 2016, Mr. Komati gave a check of 4.5 crores (NRI’s donation) to AP chief minister and this has stirred up a huge controversy in the NRI community.
- First allegation is that Mr.Jayaram acted on his own to donate TANA (Telugu Association of North America) funds to the government – and apparently TANA leadership is unhappy about it.
- Second allegation is that Jayaram doesn’t have 4.5 crore in hand, but just to showcase his capabilities to TDP leadership he jumped the gun.
- Conflict of Interest : Jayaram is still a Board of Director in TANA. As a government representative, he cannot confine to a single organization.
Telugu360 has talked to multiple NRI community leaders about this issue. Before we go further, here is the background of the issue:
In 2014, TANA and then president Mr. Mohan Nannapaneni had collected 2 crores donation for devastating HudHud cyclone. Of these 2 crores , 1 crore was donated to digital class rooms in Vizag area and the remaining one crore TANA donated to Anganwadis in that area. Initially, this fund was intended to rebuild houses in Hudhud effected areas and when TANA approached Mr. Naidu, he advised to use this funds for something else permanent structures like skill development center, as PM Modi has already committed funds to rebuild those damaged houses. So the 2 crores collected have been lying in bank account in India since then.
Komati Jayaram, a special advisor to AP Government, is a Director in TANA. Can he work with other organizations seamlessly being a member in a competing organization ? Jayaram Komati broached this subject in presence of Ganta Srinivasa Rao to use half of those collected funds as part of digital class rooms initiative. Then this was brought up in the subsequent TANA Board Meeting and was vehemently discussed. To satisfy all parties, it was decided that half of the funds would be allocated to digital class rooms. Thus, TANA’s one crore donation to digital class rooms was an executive committee decision taken on July 13rd 2016.
The 4.5 Cr donation made by Jayaram constitutes :
a) 1 Crore TANA executive committee approved donation
b) 75 lacks funds raised by Jayaram in USA
c) Remaining amount is pledged by NRIs but not yet in hand of Jayaram
The reason that Mr. Komati has hastened this donation to AP government without committed funds, is interesting. Ravi Vemuru, APNRT advisor, who is gaining good rapport with AP CM lately, has organized an event in Visakhapatnam on Oct 20th to inaugurate new IT companies’ offices which was his initiative. Not to be left behind, Mr.Jayaram counted his chickens before they are hatched ,attempted to impress CM with huge donation. As a matter of fact, with just 2 crore donation in hand, he presented 4.5 Cr cheque to the CM. Though he is claiming that the cheque indicates commitments he already got, it would have elated his reputation if presented when the cheque is ready to cash. Now the onus of fulfilling 4.5 C pledge remains with Jayaram.
On other hand, few key members of TANA are not happy with the fact that despite being major donor, TANA was not given due credit in this event. Jayaram’s argument is that this program was held under Janmabhumi Organization, TANA’s exclusive program is scheduled for December 2016.
In a TANA board meeting yesterday night (10/24), which ended peacefully, the whole controversy was discussed, Komati Jayaram reportedly opined that he should have communicated the event better with the TANA team.
Dissent brewing against TDP Government and Komati Jayaram:
Komati Jayaram is now a special advisor to AP Government. In this capacity, he has to represent all NRI’s and NRI organizations. A number of people are questioning how he can be a Director in TANA when he is holding a responsible government post ? Can he work with organizations seamlessly being a member in a competing organization ? Representatives of other organizations have expressed discontent against incumbent TDP government as a government representative can’t stick to a post in the organization.
” Good or Bad, Mr. Jayaram was made advisor of a AP Government with cabinet position. In this position, he has to work as the interface between all the NRI’s and the Andhra government. However, as he still holds a post within TANA, other organizations are not willing to come forward to work with him.” says a West Regional co-ordinator.