No funds in kitty, administration in a fix

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 18

In the ongoing race among administrations of various districts in running the Sanjhi Rasoi scheme, Jalandhar officials are in a fix over arranging donations for its viability just days after its launch.

The administration officials today said that even as they had collected over Rs 7 lakh for the Rs 10 thali scheme ahead of its launch, almost the entire amount collected under the District Relief Fund had drained out. The administration is learnt of have spent nearly Rs 4.5 lakh on the renovation of a hall in the Civil Hospital, while the remaining Rs 2 lakh had been doled out to the Ann Jal Society, an NGO roped in for organising the meals.

With an elaborate meal plan devised for all seven days a week (most districts following six-day pattern), the cost per platter is coming to as high as Rs 24-25 on some days, especially Sunday when poori, chane and halwa are to be served. There are more than 400 people daily taking token for the Rs 10 thali. Also, about 20-25 poor patients and handicapped people are being given free thali everyday. This means that about Rs 6,000 has to be arranged by the administration on a daily basis to run the scheme.

With no viable model to run the scheme and no funds in the Red Cross Society, officials of various departments said they had been asked to arrange for more donors again. Officials are now reluctant, as they claim that it is not that easy to daily go after the city’s bigwigs asking for funds. “If today, we ask for any funds or favours from industrialists or any other topshots of the city for running our scheme, we will not be able to take action against these people whenever they default on any issue. They will surely seek returns from us that time,” said an official.

Another official rued, “How will a DTO stop an illegally plying bus owned by a transporter, who has paid funds to administration? How will a DETC act against an industrialist for tax evasion, if a high donation has been sought from him?”

The Excise Department too reportedly sought Rs 5,000 donations from some liquor licence holders for making a total collection of Rs 2 lakh. Among the city’s prominent persons who have already made big donations are Dr BS Johal of Johal Hospital and marriage palace owner Ranbir Tutt, both of whom have doled out an amount of Rs 1 lakh. Builder Anil Chopra too has deposited Rs 50,000 for the scheme.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma today held a meeting with officials and urged one of the officials from among ADCs, SDMs and Secretary Red Cross to daily assess the quality of food before its distribution. He said CCTV cameras too would be installed and linked with the DC office wherefrom it could be monitored every afternoon.

Shivam Saroya of the Ann Jal Society said, “We too keep trying to get donors from our side. There are many people coming for charity in Ludhiana, where we started earlier.”

‘Seeking funds from businessmen unfair’

Officials are now reluctant as they claim that it is not that easy to daily go after the city’s bigwigs asking for funds. “If today, we ask for any funds or favours from industrialists or any other topshots of the city for running our scheme, we will not be able to take action against these people whenever they default on any issue. They will surely seek returns from us that time,” said an official. Another official rued, “How will a DTO stop an illegally plying bus owned by a transporter, who has paid funds to administration? How will a DETC act against an industrialist for tax evasion, if a high donation has been sought from him?”