Published On : Thu, Jan 14th, 2016

Many takers for CM’s Relief Fund, reveals RTI query

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devendra Fadanvis

Nagpur: The Chief Minister’s Secretariat, in a reply to RTI query put up by city’s reputed activist Abhay Kolarkar, has informed that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is neither misused nor distributed on inappropriate grounds.

The Secretariat further informed that the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is specifically meant for rehabilitation of people affected by natural calamities. Moreover, if the Chief Minister issues directives the assistance is also provided in the matters of accidental deaths.

In the year 2013-14, the Secretariat had considered 1200 applications seeking medical and other help and the assistance of Rs 6 crore was provided. Similarly, in 2014-15, 3099 applications were considered and help of Rs 32 crore was extended to the needy. Applications seeking assistance on medical grounds are never rejected. At the most, the applications without appropriate documentations are kept pending, stated the reply.

The RTI information further stated that the year-wise details of contributions to the CM’s Relief Fund cannot be made available as contributions/donations at district as well as headquarters level and concerned individuals are directly deposited. In the year-2013-14, the total amount with the CM’s Relief Fund was 136.18 crore including in savings account and fixed deposits. Similarly, in the year 2014-15, the total amount stood at Rs 313 crore.

“The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is a public trust registered under Public Trust Rules and Regulations. The Chairman of this Trust is the seating Chief Minister. Similarly, the Finance Minister, Law and Justice Minister, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Revenue Minister, CM’s Principal Secretary/Secretary, Joint/Deputy Secretary, Joint/Deputy/Assistant Director look after the work of the Trust as associate members,” stated the RTI reply.

The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is distributed in accordance with the Chief Minister’s directives and any misuse of the fund has not come to the notice of the Secretariat.