Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has come under fire for allotting Rs. 8 lakh from the CM relief fund to finance the Bangkok trip of a 15-member dance troupe of the State government employees to participate in the ‘Cultural Olympiad of Performing Art.’
The opposition has targeted the BJP leader as it is alleged that the money from the relief fund was meant to be distributed among the drought-hit farmers and for the water conservation works to be carried out in those areas.
Following the criticism from all quarters, the CM office clarified that the programme in Bangkok was not a commercial event but was performing cultural art competition. It stated that the relief fund has separate accounts for drought relief, Jalyukta Shivar (the water conservation scheme) and money used here is not from these accounts.
The information was revealed from a reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) act to activist Anil Galgali.
The Public Information officer of the CM Relief Fund desk provided Mr. Galgali the information that the financial assistance worth Rs. 8 lakh was given to the Sachivalaya Gymkhana. It had sought assistance through their letter dated August 15, 2015.
The Gymkhana needed the assistance to send its 15-member team comprising government employees to enable them to participate in a dance competition being held at Bangkok, Thailand, from December 26 to 30 as a special case. The application was sent by the Chief Minister to the CM Relief Fund desk with instructions to put up the application as a special case. On August 27, the application was put up before the Chief Minister as a special case and the assistance of Rs. 8 lakhs was sanctioned. The money was transferred to the Sachivalaya Gymkhana’s account on September 11, 2015.
The purpose of the CM Relief Fund is to provide immediate help to those affected by disaster. It is also provided to the economically backward sections among the communities towards medical emergencies. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition is pending before the Bombay High Court against the adhoc functioning of the Chief Minister Relief Fund, due to which the government had taken a policy decision to hold the applications of personal nature and also of institutions seeking assistance.
The clarification from the Chief Minister’s office said that the government employees are not entitled for any other private aid for cultural activities and this is the only way they can get the aid. “Out of the total funds, around 25 per cent can be spent on cultural activities,” said the clarification.
