Arvind, Irrespective of the facts, firstly these emails are quite misleading, for no reason except to target me. Firstly, the grant is no way related to the subject of this thread, even then only partial information is presented. You have mentioned the community was not happy with the budget, but didn't mention the clarifications provided, and the 40+ plus endorsements it received from community members. Presenting partial information that is misleading, specifically targeting an individual, is nothing but harassment.
Yes, I mentioned initially there would be a message in a couple of days, but it got delayed, as WMF is not working with full capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic, and one has to be considerate about that fact. Irrespective, a reply has been posted by a WMF staffer, twice, but for some reason it didn't get through. There might be a glitch, and I wrote to the list admins to look into it. I would not go into details of the profile for now, though I still think it is dubious based on certain aspects, and this is not the platform or manner for this conversation. This seems more of targeting an individual, rather than enquiring. On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 1:11 PM Subhashish <psubhash...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear Arvind Menon, > > It's not the question of your username/real identity but about protocols > of an organization that is staff-led and is run with some community > oversight. This list, on the other hand, is a volunteer-led forum. So, I'd > concur with Tito that jumping into conclusions too fast is not ideal. Now > that Asaf has suggested writing to the WMF HR, you might want to write to > them directly and share your concerns. If you still think that there is a > need for community intervention after they respond, that would be a good > starting point. Otherwise, it might result in tarnishing a volunteer for no > credible reason based on assumptions and suspicions. The second thing I'd > strongly suggest is the timing. We all are going through a terrible time > thanks to COVID-19. Having this hard two-day-deadline might not be > productive. If you really think that this is extremely time-sensitive and > needs to be solved as soon as possible, then getting in touch with WMF > could be faster. I am guessing it would be less scandalous and less > sensational. Let's assume good faith until proven wrong. > > Subha > (Disclaimer: I have worked for WMF and for CIS-A2K (a WMF > grantee/affiliate) in the past, and I'm writing this with my volunteer > capacity.) > > On Fri, Jun 19, 2020 at 9:07 AM Tito Dutta <trulyt...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Greetings, these days I often get 2 emails when someone sends an email to >> a list. One from the mailing list and another from the Wikimedia Space. >> Anyway, I am not worried about the Wiki-identity/username part here, nor >> I asked that. However, conclusions were made really fast. I am unsure if it >> can be called Whistleblowing. >> Thanks >> User:Titodutta >> (Wikipedia editor, post in personal capacity) >> >> >> >> On Fri, 19 Jun 2020 at 08:31, Arvind Menon <tnkp...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> First of all I am not spreading any lies. Please check what information >>> I received from WMF Community Program Director >>> >>> '''Hi Arvind, Krishna had been working on a contract with Community >>> Programs but that wrapped up a couple of months ago. ''' >>> >>> Now Krishna has also accepted he was on contract and said there is >>> documentation and would provide details in likely 1-2 days. Now 3-4 days >>> have passed and wish the details can be shared. >>> >>> I could not find any User page with his name and in bracket WMF or >>> Contract and also any Meta page where it is written. This always happen >>> everytime with WMF Contractors. >>> >>> How was the selection process done? This is also not clear and no >>> mention in the reply. If it is a lateral entry and that too without >>> announcement and documentation this raises serious doubts on WMF. >>> >>> NOTE - This is not a fake profile. I will share my User Name when I feel >>> comfortable that no one will harass me. Learn to protect the identity of >>> Whistleblower. I will definitely share my User Name and clear everyone do >>> not worry. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, 18 Jun 2020 at 00:44, Asaf Bartov <abar...@wikimedia.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Hello. >>>> >>>> If you feel WMF was misled into hiring a non-competent Hindi speaker >>>> for liaising with the Hindi community, I encourage you to write to the >>>> Foundation's Human Resources department at h...@wikimedia.org, and it >>>> will be reviewed, and if necessary, whatever procedural flaw caused it will >>>> be rectified. >>>> >>>> This mailing list cannot address this issue. >>>> >>>> A. >>>> >>>> On Wed, Jun 17, 2020, 21:48 Piyush Maurya <piyush93...@gmail.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Thanks Sivaraam, >>>>> >>>>> But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about part-time hired >>>>> people serving for 6 months or so on specific projects serving for >>>>> specific >>>>> language communities. In India on account of Hindi's largest user base >>>>> Foundation chooses it whenever a new project comes in for getting input. >>>>> Mostly these positions are called 'liaison'. >>>>> >>>>> They get paid and mostly these job's information not get publicly >>>>> available (like mailing list or village pump but maybe on the link you >>>>> gave). Whenever a new initiative takes place in foundation, these newly >>>>> made positions get filled up by people who doesn't have the confidence of >>>>> the community and in severe cases can't even write Hindi! >>>>> >>>>> This is a important issue for our community. More information on this >>>>> will be helpful. >>>>> >>>>> Many thanks, >>>>> Piyush >>>>> (User:हिंदुस्थान वासी) >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, 16 Jun 2020, 9:23 pm Piyush Maurya, <piyush93...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Krishna and all, >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for very detailed clarification. I agree this was some kind of >>>>>> dubious statement without any credibility (which my comment showed). >>>>>> >>>>>> But to get some real outcome of this discussion if any. I want to >>>>>> know how the foundation chooses or appoints people for posts roll out for >>>>>> communities. I have been witness to several such cases in the past year >>>>>> or >>>>>> so where such posts got filled by someone without community consultation >>>>>> or >>>>>> knowledge. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm talking about Hindi Wikimedia community in this case. What is the >>>>>> procedure for applying for these posts. We get several people here who >>>>>> doesn't know how to write Hindi and are serving as communication bridge >>>>>> or >>>>>> liaison. And they seem to be getting these (they get paid) jobs by some >>>>>> kind of connection among themselves. >>>>>> >>>>>> Many thanks, >>>>>> Piyush >>>>>> (User:हिंदुस्थान वासी) >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Mon, 15 Jun 2020, 8:29 pm Tito Dutta, <trulyt...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> I agree. It rushed towards a conclusion without caring about >>>>>>> questions and discussion. There was not much good faith assumed as >>>>>>> well, in >>>>>>> my opinion. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> (My opinion is in personal capacity) >>>>>>> --User:Titodutta >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 7:34 PM Krishna Chaitanya Velaga < >>>>>>> kcvel...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hello everyone, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Firstly, I would like to condemn this email from a person named >>>>>>>> “Arvind Menon” - this email is very much a personal attack on me, to >>>>>>>> misguide a community member, character assasination and to defame, all >>>>>>>> using a fake profile. If the person is actually seeking any >>>>>>>> information for >>>>>>>> community benefit, as Piyush rightly pointed, it would be helpful to >>>>>>>> know >>>>>>>> the person’s Wikimedia identity, and their work. Otherwise, this can >>>>>>>> merely >>>>>>>> be regarded as an ad hominem attack, which has happened several times >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> the past on this mailing list. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Before I go into details, I have been very disturbed by this email, >>>>>>>> as several people were asking me, and I was pressurised. I personally >>>>>>>> request community members to look for authenticity before considering >>>>>>>> anything. I fear this might become a practice to target people just by >>>>>>>> creating fake profiles/emails, and wrongfully nameshaming them on >>>>>>>> public >>>>>>>> platforms, without complete understanding. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Regarding my role with WMF, firstly, there was a contract, but I >>>>>>>> did not have any employment, and do not hold any. There has been public >>>>>>>> documentation about it, and stating there wasn't any is untrue. All the >>>>>>>> relevant details+evidence will be put forward. I have asked WMF support >>>>>>>> regarding the same, and they would be giving further on this shortly >>>>>>>> (probably in a day or two) after this email. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I would like to particularly focus on the WikiConference India >>>>>>>> part. My relation with WMF has nothing to do with the grant, and no >>>>>>>> benefit >>>>>>>> of the same has been applied in either of the contexts. Though >>>>>>>> initially >>>>>>>> people expressed concerns, many of them, after clarifying, went on to >>>>>>>> support the proposal, and it gained more than 40 endorsements >>>>>>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference/WikiConference_India_2020#Endorsements> >>>>>>>> from community members, which shows the community is in favour of the >>>>>>>> proposal and the conference. WMF comments were not against it. We >>>>>>>> created >>>>>>>> FAQs >>>>>>>> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference/WikiConference_India_2020#FAQs> >>>>>>>> on the grant page itself to help community members understand the >>>>>>>> reasons >>>>>>>> behind it, and even all the questions on talk page were answered. We >>>>>>>> also >>>>>>>> mentioned that “all bills worth valuing more than ₹30,000.00 will >>>>>>>> be publicly published” - this demonstrates transparency, in an >>>>>>>> attempt to establish a new practice. Anyway, the entire Conference and >>>>>>>> Event Grants program has been paused due to COVID-19 pandemic, and >>>>>>>> none of >>>>>>>> the proposals forwarded from the initial stage. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I provided clarification even though the initial email doesn’t >>>>>>>> address me or respectfully seeks any information. I am taking this >>>>>>>> effort >>>>>>>> to provide detailed clarification, for the sake of community members >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> understanding only. This email, though posted by a fake profile, >>>>>>>> created >>>>>>>> great stress, and almost spoiled my entire day. I once again request >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> community to be careful of random postings with unidentifiable >>>>>>>> identities. >>>>>>>> I wonder if there is any way further such personal attacks can be >>>>>>>> avoided, >>>>>>>> towards any community member. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Krishna Chaitanya V. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sun, 14 Jun 2020, 20:55 Piyush Maurya, <piyush93...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi Arvind, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> There are many cases where WMF appointed someone for x community >>>>>>>>> and community didn't know nothing about it until the process is over. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Transparency is lacking in the foundation's working environment. >>>>>>>>> If you share your username or what you do in the Wikimedia projects >>>>>>>>> it will >>>>>>>>> give your comments some value. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Kind regards, >>>>>>>>> Piyush >>>>>>>>> (User:हिंदुस्थान वासी) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sun, 14 Jun 2020, 4:50 pm Arvind Menon, <tnkp...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Hi, >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> The individual grantee for Wikiconference India 2020 grant had >>>>>>>>>> secretly done a WMF Contract job with the Community Program Team >>>>>>>>>> some month >>>>>>>>>> ago. There was no public announcement for the job so I believe no >>>>>>>>>> selection >>>>>>>>>> process or hidden selection and no public documentation that he was >>>>>>>>>> working. My question is why was he given the job depriving other >>>>>>>>>> community >>>>>>>>>> members from India who want to work but apply and get rejected. What >>>>>>>>>> was >>>>>>>>>> the need of WMF to hide the process by not informing or documenting. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> So on Wikiconference India grant WMF was applying to WMF and WMF >>>>>>>>>> was going to accept WMF grant. Atleast from WMF grant comments it >>>>>>>>>> looks >>>>>>>>>> because community blamed grant taking so much money. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> To me, this is utter misuse of power and abuse of donation money. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>>>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>>>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >>> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >>> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list >> Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org >> To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >> > _______________________________________________ > Wikimediaindia-l mailing list > Wikimediaindia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > To unsubscribe from the list / change mailing preferences visit > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l >
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