MUMBAI: In a major check on the misuse of civic funds during the distribution of freebies by corporators, the BMC has issued a circular making it mandatory to fix the eligibility criteria for various items and invite applications to select the beneficiaries.
The BMC has been distributing freebies like laptops and tablets, jute bags, food trucks, sewing machines, tarpaulin sheets and dustbins without any clear guidelines and eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. The Opposition had alleged that this was leading to misuse of funds as most freebies were being given to party workers instead of those who really needed them.
"The BMC’s circular to fix eligibility criteria for freebies and make distribution transparent is welcome. At a time when the BMC is facing a cash crunch, it is surprising that corporators are on a spending spree, using civic funds for distributing freebies ranging from computers and jute bags to food trucks. The BMC must first focus on providing basic civic amenities like good roads and open spaces to citizens.-TimesView"
Political observers said that with the BMC elections scheduled next year, freebies are in high demand. The new circular issued by the BMC’s planning department has made it mandatory to fix the eligibility criteria for items and seek applications from citizens. “The officials concerned must issue an advertisement in newspapers about items being distributed and applications must be invited in a transparent manner,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner (Planning). “All applications must be screened and only those eligible must be given the items. This way there will be a record of all applications, there will be no duplication of beneficiaries.”
A major controversy had broken out in February when BJP corporator Vinod Mishra filed a complaint with the Comptroller and Auditor General against the BMC’s bid to buy freebies, including 30 food and vegetable trucks in Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Ja-dhav’s constituency in Byculla. Mishra had demanded an audit of the purchases alleging that they were done in violation of the central vigilance commission norms. Proposals were also passed to buy gym equipment worth Rs 2 crore, CCTV cameras in constituency no 209 worth Rs 1 crore, solar street lights for Rs 50 lakh and high mast lights for Rs 1 crore and steel benches worth Rs 90 lakh.
“We come this circular. Most freebies are given to close associates of the ruling Shiv Sena,” said Mishra. “We are not against freebies, but there must be a fixed eligibility criteria. BMC funds must be used for making durable assets and not for distribution of freebies. There must be an audit of all the freebies distributed so far.”
In March, in a major policy change, the BMC had moved Rs 650 crore of the corporators’ fu-nds from its revenue budget to capital budget. This means distribution of freebies and recurring works being carried out by corporators from these funds has become more difficult.
