No efforts for fund raising; Mahadeshwar adds lowest amount to Mayor’s fund

It is been a conventional method of Mumbai Municipal Corporation of collecting Mayor’s fund to provide financial assistance to the needy patients in the emergency situations, every Mayor has collected fund for this. But the present Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar seems to have not made any great attempt to collect this fund, in his tenure so far, the lowest Mayor’s fund has been accumulated.

In 1956, Mayor Fund was started. This fund is used for immediately assistance to the victims of disaster like storm, flood, drought, earthquake, house collapse and fire. On September 20, 1990, the objectives of these funds were modified to provide financial support for cardiovascular surgery, kidney transplantation, dialysis, cancer and other major surgeries. At present, the Corporation has Rs. 2 crore 1 Lakh rupees in the bank which has been kept as a fixed deposit. With the interest from this fixed deposit, Rs. 5000 is being provided to each poor and needy patient for the medical surgeries. Also, in emergency situations, the financial aid is being provided from Mayor’s fund.

To help the poor and needy from the mayor’s fund, the Mayor should try to increase fund raising. However, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeeshwar has not made any efforts during his tenure in last one and half year to increase the fund. Since 2011, the former Mayors Shraddha Jadhav, Sunil Prabhu, Snehal Ambekar had collected fund of 66 lakh 4 thousand rupees. However, in the last one and a half year, Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeeshwar has been added to this fund to add only Rs 3 lakh 20 thousand. During the tenure of Mayor Mahadeshwar, the lowest mayor fund has been accumulated.

Mayor refused to give reaction

When contacted Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeeshwar to ask about why the Mayor fund was reduced during his tenure, he refused to comment anything on the matter.

What is Mayor’s fund?

In 1956, Mayor Fund was started. This fund is used for immediately assistance to the victims of disaster like storm, flood, drought, earthquake, house collapse and fire. On September 20, 1990, the objectives of these funds were modified to provide financial support for cardiovascular surgery, kidney transplantation, dialysis, cancer and other major surgeries.

Should appeal for fund instead giving bouquet 

The Mayor should appeal to the people to raise the fund instead of spending money

on bouquet in various programs. He can also organize an event where he can appeal to Corporators and employees to help for Mayor’s fund as per their wish.

-Snehal Ambekar, Former Mayor

Mayor Rajani should be organized 

Mayor Rajani or Asha Bhosale’s program should be organized. If the event is organized in the Andheri Sports Complex, then it costing will not be high.

   -Vishakha Raut, Former Mayor and House Leader

This is a very serious matter  

The poor patients in Mumbai are expected to get financial help from the Mayor’s

fund. However, if mayor fails to collect the fund, then this is a very serious matter. Mayors should try to increase fund.

Rakhi Jadhav, Group leader, NCP

 

This Mayors collected more fund

In the period 1995 to 96, R. T. Kadam was the mayor. During the course of his tenure, he had organized the program for Mayor Rajani. He could collect the fund of One Crore rupees for Mayor’s fund. When Sunil Prabhu was the Mayor during 2012-2014, he appealed to Corporators, Municipal employees and officials to pay their one day salary for the Mayor’s fund. He collected fund of rupees 44 lakh.