Karnataka - Bijapur   

`Take action against fraudulent NGOs'

Staff Correspondent

Physically challenged persons urge Deputy Commissioner to initiate probe into irregularities

OPPOSITION: Physically challenged staging a protest in front of Deputy Commissioner's office in Bijapur on Friday.

BIJAPUR: Physically challenged persons staged a protest on Friday demanding stern action against non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that had been siphoning grants meant for the welfare of the disabled.

Protesters led by Ghanashyam Bhandage, president of Uttara Karnataka Angavikhalara Kshemabhivriddhi Samsthe of Hubli, took out a rally to the Deputy Commissioner's office where they staged dharna. They used "halige-mazalu" to draw the attention of public and the administration.

Mr. Bhandage handed over a memorandum to A.M. Khatib, Headquarters Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, seeking prosecution of "corrupt" NGOs.

He said in the memorandum that funds allocated for the disabled were not reaching the needy thanks to manipulation by "corrupt" NGOs which were hand-in-glove with officials.

The Government had entrusted the task of providing hostel facility to physically challenged candidates selected for vocational training in Bijapur, to Sharanajyothi Vidya Samsthe, an NGO, that had been blacklisted by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, he said.

Also, zilla panchayat president Arjun Rathod inspected an old age home and school meant for mentally retarded run by the same NGO on February 15, and found that it was receiving government grant by producing false records.

He said the organisation was one of the many such NGOs operating in the district. Hence, the physically challenged persons urged Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin to initiate a probe into "irregularities" committed by such NGOs.

Office-bearers of different organisations for the disabled, Praveen Kadibagila, Mehaboob Tonshyal, Muktum Husseain Badami, Yallppa Sagaragol, Siddaroodha Koppad, Ullas Joshi, Bhimsi Kambar and Raghu Hubballi took part.

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`Take action against fraudulent NGOs'

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