In a glaring case of civic
insensitivity, a major chunk of funds that had been set aside to
initiate welfare schemes for the physically challenged people living in
Mira Bhayandar stands lapsed. Reason: the civic administration has
failed to utilise the funds for the purpose in this fiscal.
The matter
came to light after social activist and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
volunteer, Sukhdev Benbansi, sourced out information in this context
from the Social Welfare Department of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal
Corporation (MBMC) under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.
It was revealed that as per State government guidelines, a budgetary allocation of Rs 87 lakh had been made by the civic administration to extend assistance to differently-abled people living in the twin-city.
The funds were meant to aid beneficiaries with equipment and also impart entrepreneurship training. However, the social welfare development not only failed to extend help to the needy, but disbursed cheques of Rs 50,000 each to 54 municipal employees ( spending Rs 27 lakh) who have been recruited in the civic body under the physically challenged category.
This despite the fact that the Mira-Bhayandar unit of the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre has been seeking assistance for its 700 members for the past couple of years.
When contacted, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Sambhaji Panpatte, said, “It is true that funds had been lapsed as the MBMC was yet to draft a policy in this regard, however a resolution to this effect has been passed last month and we have chalked out an elaborate plan to launch a medical camp to know the needs of the challenged people and subsequently provide them with necessary aid. “
A door-to-door survey to identify the beneficiaries was on and a budgetary allocation of 96 lakh has been made this year, officials said.
Source : Free Press journal , 11th June 2013
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