Tuesday 24 February 2015

Central Governments Metro Fare Fixation Committee for Metro only on paper!

In order to fix and stop the steep rise in the fares of Mumbai Metro, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis via his Twitter handle had announced of formation of " Fare Fixation Committee", but to everyone's surprise no such committee has been formed is what has been revealed by an RTI filed with the Central Government by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. So, it turns out that the Fare Fixation Commitee has only been on papers, and this in a way is indirectly helping Industrialist Anil Ambani's Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, claims Anil Galgali.

On January 2015, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis via his Twitter had made this formal announcement after his meeting with the Central Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Fadnavis had announced formation of Fare Fixation Committee under leadership of Justice E. Padmanabhan and also had assured that the fares reduction will be pledged in the courts. Based on these revelations by the Maharashtra CM, RTI activist Anil Galagli had sought information via RTI, the agenda of meeting between the Central Minister & Maharashtra CM. Galgali also asked for the reasons as to why name of Subodh Kumar was rejected to head the Fare Fixation Committee. He also wanted to know the reasons behind the delay in formation of the committee and whether it is indirectly helping Anil Ambanis Mumbai metro One private limited to collect maximum fares ? In reply by the Mass Rapid Transportation Systems Director and Central Government's PIO, Prakash Singh to Anil Galgali, denied any such help extended.He clearly mention that  the order for constitution of Fare Fixation committee has not yet been ordered.

“This is a clear case of cheating Mumbaikars. 43 days have passed since the CM announced the formation of Fare Fixation Committee.In reality, nothing has been done. The common man is suffering as a result.This is definitely not achche din for Metro travellers,'' said  Anil Galgali. Anil Galgali has now demanded formation of Fare Fixation committee and also the implementation of the Tramways Act instead of the "Metro Act" by writing to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

मेट्रो की किराया कमिटी पर मुख्यमंत्री का झूठ

मुंबई मेट्रो की किराया वृद्धि रोकने के लिए 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित होने का मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस द्वारा किया गया ट्विटर दावा फर्जी साबित हुआ है क्योंकि अब तक मेट्रो  'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित होने का किसी भी प्रकार का आदेश जारी न होने का कबूलनामा केंद्र सरकार ने आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता अनिल गलगली से किया है. केंद्र सरकार की मेट्रो 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' कागज पर ही होने से अपरोक्ष तौर पर शक्तिशाली उद्योगपति अनिल अंबानी की मुंबई मेट्रो वन प्राइवेट लिमिटेड कंपनी को  मदत किए जाने की बात स्पष्ट हो रही है.

जनवरी 2015 को मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस ने ट्विटर पर किए दावे के अनुसार शहरी विकास मंत्री वेंकय्या नायडु के साथ बैठक होने की बात कही थी. फडणवीस ने जस्टिस ई पद्मनाभन की अगुवाई में 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' का गठन होने पर खुशी जताते हुए मेट्रो का किराया कम करने का अनुरोध न्यायालय में किए जाने की बात कही थी. इसी मुद्दे को लेकर आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता अनिल गलगली ने वेंकय्या नायडु के साथ हुई बैठक की मिनट्स कॉपी और केंद्र सरकार द्वारा दिनांक 23 जनवरी 2014 को 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' को लेकर जानकारी मांगते हुए सुबोध कुमार के नाम का विरोध होने के पीछे का प्रमुख कारण तथा उनकी नेगेटिव रिपोर्ट की कॉपी मांगी थी. 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित करने में हुई देरी और अपरोक्ष तौर पर अनिल अंबानी की रिलायंस की मुंबई मेट्रो वन प्राइवेट लिमिटेड कंपनी को चाहिए वैसा किराया वसूल करने के लिए शहरी विकास मंत्रालय मदत तो नही कर रहा है ना? ऐसी जानकारी मांगने पर मास रैपिड ट्रांसपोर्टेशन सिस्टम-I (MRTS) के निदेशक और केंद्रीय जन सुचना अधिकारी प्रकाश सिंह ने अनिल गलगली को उसबाबत किसी भी तरह की जानकारी मास रैपिड ट्रांसपोर्टेशन सिस्टम-I (MRTS) के रेकॉर्ड पर न होने  की बात कही. वही 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित किए जाने की तारीख मांगने पर प्रकाश सिंह ने 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित करने का आदेश अबतक  जारी न होने का दावा किया.

आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता अनिल गलगली ने इसे मुंबईकरों के साथ किया गया शत प्रतिशत फ्रॉड बताया. आज 43 दिन होने के बाद भी मुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस द्वारा किया गया दावा असल में अमल नही किया गया है. आम लोग इससे परेशान है और मेट्रो से यात्रा करनेवालों के अच्छे दिन आए नही है. आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता अनिल गलगली ने मेट्रो की 'फेअर फिक्सेशन कमिटी' गठित करने का आदेश जारी करने की मांग करते हुए 'मेट्रो एक्ट' के बजाय पुराना ट्रॉमवेज एक्ट कार्यानिव्त करने की मांग वाला पत्र प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी को भेजा है.

Saturday 21 February 2015

जो बोलेगा मारा जाएगा

महाराष्ट्र की प्रगतिशील राज्य की छबि को बार बार कुचलने की कोशिश जारी है।हाल ही में कॉमरेड गोविंद पानसरे पर हुआ जानलेवा हमला और उससे उनकी हुई मौत से फिर एक बार सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताओं पर होनेवाले हमलों का मामला गंभीर हुआ है।महाराष्ट्र को और कितनी मौत चाहिए? यह सवाल आम जनमानस से लेकर सोशल मीडिया में चर्चा में है। 'जो बोलेगा मारा जाएगा' ऐसा ही कुछ महाराष्ट्र में हो रहा है।

महाराष्ट्र के कॉमरेड नेता गोविंद पानसरे और उनकी पत्नी में पर कोल्हापुर में दिन दहाड़े हमला हुआ।उनका इलाज जारी था। इलाज में सफलता मिलते न देखकर उन्हें मुंबई स्थित कैंडी अस्पताल में दाखिल किया गया जहां पर उनकी मौत की अधिकृत घोषणा शुक्रवार देर रात को की गई। पानसरे की मौत के बाद भी कोई हमलावर पुलिस की गिरफ्त में नही आया है। इसके पहले भी डॉ नरेंद्र दाभोलकर की हत्या में शामिल किसी भी हत्यारों को पकड़ने में सरकार को सफलता नही मिली है। महाराष्ट्र में आरटीआई कानून लागू होने के बाद से लेकर आज तक कई कार्यकर्ताओं पर जानलेवा हमला हुआ है। इनमें डॉ नरेंद्र दाभोलकर और गोविंद पानसरे के नाम भी जुड़ गए है। भले यह दोनों किसी की सूचना नही इकठ्ठा करते थे लेकिन गलत कुरीतियों के खिलाफ जमकर अपनी बात रखकर उसके कार्यान्वय से पीछे भी नही हटते थे। दाभोलकर और पानसरे की हत्या से पहले पुणे के सतीश शेट्टी की हत्या हुई थी।

विगत 11 सालों में कितने लोगों ने  आरटीआई एक्ट का इस्तेमाल और सामाजिक मामलों को उठाने के कारण अपनी जान गंवाई और कितने लोगों पर जानलेवा हमले हुए? इसका जबाब केंद्र के पास है ना राज्य के पास। सामाजिक आंदोलन की अगुवाई करनेवालों पर हमला होना कोई नई बात नही है। 13 जनवरी 2010 को सतीश शेट्टी(38) की तलेगाव दाभाडे में हत्या की गई। अण्णा हजारे के भ्रष्टाचार विरोधी अभियान से जुड़े सतीश ने वहां की जमीन घोटाले की जानकारी निकाली थी। सुबह 7.15 को मॉर्निंग वॉक के दौरान उनकी हत्या हुई। जिसका सुराग आज तक नही लग पाया है। सीबीआई ने अप्रैल 2014 में क्लोजर रिपोर्ट सौपकर मामला बंद किया था जबकि उनके हत्यारों तक सीबीआई पहुंची थी पर राजनीतिक दबाव में मामला आगे बढ़ नही पाया था। हाल ही फिर एक बार सीबीआई ने शेट्टी की फ़ाइल खोल दी है। 20 अप्रैल 2010 को विठ्ठल गीते की मौत हुई। उसपर बीड के वाघबेट गांव में रविवार 18 अप्रैल 2010 की रात जानलेवा हमला हुआ  साईनाथ विद्यालय में चल रही अनियमितता का भांडाफोड़ किया था। 22 दिसंबर 2010 की ही कोल्हापुर में दत्तात्रय पाटील की हत्या हुई थी। पाटील ने नगरसेवकों की हार्स ट्रेडिंग बाबत जनहित याचिका की थी और तथा पावरलूम कारखानों को पोल खोली थी।

महाराष्ट्र में सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताओं पर जानलेवा हमला की घटनाएं चर्चित रही है। प्रसिद्ध अभिनेता और सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता श्रीराम लागू पर वर्ष 1991 में सांगली में एक गुट ने लाठियां बरसाई थी। उसी वर्ष डॉ नरेंद्र दाभोलकर पर हथियारों से लैस एक गुट ने हमला किया था लेकिन दाभोलकर ने पुलिस में शिकायत करने से इंकार कर दिया था। 16 मार्च 2010 को रेती माफियाओं ने सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सुमेरिया अब्दुल अली,नसीर जलाल और एक पत्रकार पर महाड में जानलेवा हमला किया था। महाड पुलिस ने एक विधायक के पुत्र पर मामला भी दर्ज किया। चर्चगेट स्थित ओवल बिल्डिंग में नयना कथपलिया पर 8 जनवरी 2010 को फायरिंग हुई थी। एसआरए योजना, हॉकर्स और अतिक्रमित जमीन कब्जेदारों के खिलाफ नयना आंदोलन करती थी।

एक बार हमले से बचे डॉ नरेंद्र दाभोलकर जो अंधश्रद्धा निर्मूलन के लिए संघर्षरत थे उनकी 20 अगस्त 2013 को पुणे में हत्या की गई। सुबह मॉर्निंग वॉक के दौरान अज्ञात हमलावारों ने उन्हें गोलियों से भून डाला था जिससे उनकी जगह पर ही मौत हुई थी। आज 18 महीने के बाद भी उनके हत्यारे मिल नही पाए है। महाराष्ट्र के कोल्हापूर में टोल के खिलाफ आंदोलन करनेवाले कॉमरेड गोविंद पानसरे को भी गोलियों से 16 फ़रवरी 2015 को टारगेट किया गया। 5 दिन मौत से संघर्षरत पानसरे ने मुंबई स्थित बीच कैंडी अस्पताल में 20 फरवरी 2015 को दम तोड़ा।

कॉमनवेल्थ ह्यूमन राइटस् इनिशिएटिव(सीएचआरआई) द्वारा प्रस्तुत एक दस्तावेज के अनुसार केंद्र सरकार के पास सामाजिक और आरटीआई कार्यकर्ताओं पर हमले की आधिकारिक जानकारी उपलब्ध नहीं है। कार्मिक, लोकशिकायत एवं पेंशन मंत्रालय ने हाल के वर्षो में मामले से यह कहकर पल्ला झाड़ लिया है कि “केंद्र सरकार ऐसे मामलों के आकड़े एकत्र नहीं ” करती। उसका तर्क है कि सामाजिक और आरटीआई कार्यकर्ताओं पर हुआ हमला कानून-व्यवस्था की बहाली का मामला है जो राज्यों के अधीन है।

बीते 11 वर्षो के रुझान इस बात का संकेत करते हैं कि उपेक्षा, अन्याय और भ्रष्टाचार का शिकार हुआ तबका सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताओं की हिम्मत को पस्त करने के लिए उनके ऊपर बड़ी तादाद में हमले कर रहे हैं। मिसाल के लिए बीते 11 वर्षो  में महाराष्ट्र में सामाजिक और आरटीआई कार्यकर्ताओं पर 55 दफे हमले हुए हैं और इनमें 10 मामलों में कार्यकर्ताओं  की हत्या हुई है। यह तादाद देश के राज-आर्थिक परिवेश को जड़ से आंदोलित कर रही है। अगर सही बात कही जाए तो जल, जंगल और जमीन के अलावा सामाजिक कुरुतियों तथा भ्रष्टाचार को उजागर करने का मामला हो तो सामाजिक और आरटीआई कार्यकर्ताओं की हत्या या उनके उत्पीड़न की आशंका सबसे ज्यादा है।

महाराष्ट्र में सामाजिक और आरटीआई कार्यकर्ताओं पर जानलेवा हमलों की घटनाओं की बढ़ती तादाद के बावजूद सरकार की तरफ से ऐसी कोई व्यवस्था नहीं की गई है कि कार्यकर्ता बेख़ौफ़ होकर निडरता से काम कर सके। जब तक शासन और प्रशासन इनकी सामाजिकता और संघर्ष को तवज्जो नही देता है तब तक ऐसे कितने शेट्टी, दाभोलकर और पानसरे बेमौत मारे जाते रहेगे। 'जो बोलेगा मारा जाएगा' का सिलसिला चलता ही रहेगा।


Wednesday 18 February 2015

MMRDA Splurges Rs 4.29 cr on air travel

Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is executing developmental projects worth thousands of crores in the MMR region comprising of Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar & Raigad districts. In the name of project execution the MMRDA has spent almost Rs 4.29 crores in air travel for which a major chunk comprises of travel on 'Study Tours' by Ministers, Bureaucrats like Chief Secretary, UD Secretary, General Manager of BEST, and surprisingly even PA's of Ministers. This startling information came to light in a reply to RTI Activist Anil Galgali.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had filed an RTI query with the MMRDA seeking information about the expenses incurred by it on domestic and international air travel on 23, June, 2014, which was responded to on 11, February, 2015. Desk Officer Shri V G Shinde provided the information prepared by the aaccount dept, which detailed that, since 1st April 2001 to31st March 2014 MMRDA spent Rs 1 Crore 42 lakhs 38 thousand 431 on domestic air travel for 626 occasions like meetings, study tours or other reasons. MMRDA also spent Rs 2 crore 86 lakhs 35 thousand 303 for International travel for 39 trips associated with same reasons.

The 39 foreign jaunts comprised of MMRDA officials,Chief Minister, State Ministers, Chief Secretary,Urban development Secretary, Commissioner Bmc GM BEST, and PA of Minister.
The highest spending in a single trip for only air tickets was Rs 49,18,547, which was done during a Study Tour to Comprehensive Transport Study Programme (CTS) was undertaken from 13th November 2005 to 26th November 2005 for 14 days to Malaysia, China, Canada, USA, Japan, Shanghai, Tokyo & Toronto, which included Ministers of State Rajesh Tope, Sunil Deshmukh, Rajendra Shingne, UD Secretary Ramanand Tiwari & Sanjay Ubale, BEST GM Swadheen Kshatriya, Dy Secretary Sudhakar Nagnure, Dr T Chandrashekhar, PRK Murthy, and PA to UD MOS  C S Thorat. After this a tour to Switzerland, Sweden, France & Germany was undertaken by MOS Rajesh Tope, Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul, Secretary to CM CS Sangitrao, Dy Secretary Suresh Kakani, Shankar Deshpande and also political corporators, Ashish Shelar & Rajesh Singh, this study tour costed Rs 49,07,687 on air tickets only and was undertaken to study Urban Planning, Traffic & Transportation & Urban development. Similarly Chief Minister Ashok Chavan along with Chief Secretary J P Dange, PA Nitin Kareer and Principal Secretary UD T C Benjamin 10 days trip to USA,Malaysia and Singapore ( 12th June to 21st June 2010) costed  Rs 43,34,177 and was undertaken to attend Desalination Plant, Monorail plan inspection, City and Urban planning tour.

MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana & Addl Commissioner Ashwini Bhide's 3 day trip to London (24th Nov to 26th Nov 2011) costed Rs 20,34,517 and was undertaken to attend a conference on Infrastructural Finance. Apart from this a trip to Washington and London was organised as study tour as well as attending the Transport Forum and Study Tour costing Rs 19,89,836 comprising of Principal Secretary UD  Benjamin, Addl Commissioner MMRDA Smt Ashwini Bhide, SVR Srinivasan & PRK Murthy. Also in Washington, MMRDA Commissioner Ajit Warty & MUTP Project Director UPS Madan undertook an 8 day trip for MUTP project coordination and understandings along with UD Principal Secretary Ramanand Tiwari in 2002 costing Rs 5,73,794. Afterwards a study trip of 14 days was undertaken to Kuala Lampur, Bangkok & Singapore costing RS 7,66,460 comprising of Dr T Chandrashekhar, PRK Murthy, UD Principal Secretary Ramanand Tiwari & Ex MMRDA Commissioner A K Mago. There were also singular trips undertaken by Ratnakar Gaikwad ( London), Rahul Asthana (Italy, Greece, Osaka), SVR Srinivasan ( London), Dilip Kawathkar (Frankfurt), Smt Vijayalakshmi (US), S B Pardeshi (Rotterdam), Uma Adusumili ( Japan), A R Wankhede ( China, Hongkong), R C Dohore (China, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia), Sharad Varaskar ( Seoul, Korea). The trips by these officals from the Finance, Legal & Technical advisers with study tour for Noise barriers and better air quality raise suspicions.

MMRDA Commissioner's have undertaken and organised foreign jaunts for persons not connected to MMRDA as if a village feast is generally organised. Ministers and officers not connected with MMRDA along with their PA's too have enjoyed this largess alleged Anil Galgali. RTI Activist Anil Galgali in a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadanavis & MMRDA Commissioner UPS Madan has demanded an inquiry in the foreign trips undertaken, he also stated that when for domestic travel the Railways & the ST have a very good service and network, which is also cheaper then why was crores of public money wasted in air travel?. Also in the era of IT, there are services like Video conferencing technology being ignored in MMRDA, which is widely utilized by corporates to save valuable time and money, why is such options not utilized by MMRDA for domestic and international meetings? Anil Galgali also demanded from the govt, that in future the domestic and international air travel be restricted and other options be utilized to save public money and time.

Friday 13 February 2015

Only 1 FDA officer after every 1.35 lakh people in the State of Maharashtra

To make sure that all the safety norms are practiced and that there is no adulteration in the Food or food item available to us, and also the Drugs that we consume are available to us at the appropriate cost and that too with the implementation of its law, remains the prime responsibility of Food and the Drugs Department (FDA) of our state. The implementation of the newly passed Food Security Bill also gathers the agenda of the FDA. But the State Government fails to recognise the importance of this department. This is the only department that is directly related to the health of a common man. Of a capacity of altogether 1176 positions sanctioned by the Government in the FDA, an astonishing 365 posts have still been left vacant by the government, an RTI query put by Anil Galgali has revealed, i.e. 31% of the posts been lying vacant. For a population of 11 crores of Maharashtra State, 1176 posts that have been allotted for the FDA, 811 posts have been occupied which indicated that after 1.35 lakh of people there is only 1 FDA officer working in Maharashtra.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had sought information in regard to the total posts that were allotted to the FDA, along with the ones occupied and the one’s that have been left vacant. The headquarters are located of this department is in the BKC area of Mumbai along with divisions at Thane, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Sangli, Satara, Nagpur, Latur and in all comprising of divisions in 31 districts of Maharashtra. In the all of these offices, only 265 Food Security officers’ posts have been sanctioned and 161 posts that of Drug Inspectors have been sanctioned by the Government. But 78 posts of FSO’s and 37 of Drug Inspectors posts still lie vacant, revealed RTI filed by Anil Galgali on the 15th January of this year. In the Food Department 22 posts of that of Joint Commissioners lay vacant as compared to 62 posts sanctioned. In the Drugs Department of the FDA, 13 out of 35 posts that of technical officers, 4 out of 8 senior Technical Officers, 22 out of 52 posts sanctioned for the Joint Commissioners, 9 out of the 12 posts that of the Administrative heads, 23 out of 60 posts that of Sample Assistants and 2 out of 3 Plant Operators remain vacant, reveals the RTI.

# No Judicial Officer in the FDA!!

For smooth running of operations of the State Government, every department is bound to have a Judicial Officer who is responsible for the law to be abiding by the department and also to represent the Government in any judicial matters that may arise in the courts. In the Food & Drugs Department also such one post of Judicial Officer is sanctioned, that also is kept vacant by the government. Along with that, posts that of Joint (Food) Commissioner, Technical Officers, Electric officers, and positions of porters are also lie vacant in the crucial FDA Department reveals the RTI filed by Galgali.  Group A and Group B vacancies are to filled in FDA was responsibilities of Government. Group C and Group D posts are responsibilities of respectively FDA Commissioner and the head of Department, revealed the RTI.Even FDA  situation was worst but Commissioner like Mahesh Zagade gave best performance even little colleagues.

# Chief Minister should intervene

In a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, RTI activist Anil Galgali has demanded for immediate recruitment and deputation of officers to the vacant posts. At present, a lot of pressure is being put on the current staff of the FDA, but once the posts are filled, effective implementation of the Act can be done, said Galgali. A lot of attention and control over the Drug Manufactures and Food item traders is required nowadays to overcome adulteration and black marketing. In such an important department if the strength is increased it will definitely help the system to run on its own, concluded Galgali.


Friday 6 February 2015

Mumbai University spends Rs 12.11 lakhs to defend appointment of Dr Rajan Welukar as Vice Chancellor

In a reply to a RTI query it has come to light that Dr Rajan Welukar utilized the services of prominent lawyers, who were not part of the approved panel of Lawyers of the Mumbai University to defend his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University. These Prominent lawyers who were over and above those who are paneled lawyer for the University were paid Rs 12.11 Lakhs as fees for the services provided. Worse, the amount spent from the coffers of the University did not have appropriate sanction from the Govt or the Governor, who functions as the Chancellor of the University. This information was revealed in a reply to a query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had filed a query with the Mumbai University seeking details of Lawyer appointed and expenses incurred for defending the appointment of Dr Rajan Welukar as VC of the University. In a reply to Galgali, the University's Law Dept's Suprintendent Smt Smita Shinde informed that, The University was represented in the Supreme Court by Adv Naveen Prakash and he has been paid Rs 8 Lakhs till date. Naveen Prakash had presented 2 bills of Rs 5.50 Lakhs & Rs 2.50 Lakhs on 23rd May 2014. In the year 2013 Naveen Prakash claimed Rs 5.50 Lakhs as fees for attending before the court on 29th April, 5th July, 23rd July, 6th august, 9th December. Also he presented a bill of Rs 2.50 Lakhs for attending before the court on 2nd July & 31st July 2013. Naveen Prakash was appointed to represent the case on 2nd July 2013 on the request of Adv Rui Rodrigues a panel lawyer of the University and the appointment was sanctioned by the Pro - Vice Chancellor under the leadership of Dr Rajan Welulkar.

The University also incurred legal expenses of Rs 4,10,900 for defending the case in the Mumbai High Court. In the High Court the University was represented by 3 lawyers namely Adv Rafiq Dada, Adv Naushad Engineer, & Adv Sagar Talekar, and they were respectively paid Rs 3,30,900 (Rafiq Dada), Rs 45,000 (Naushad Engineer) & Rs 35,000 (Sagar Talekar) as fees. On being queried whether any permission / sanction of the Governor or the State Govt was obtained or not, Anil Galgali was replied that, this information was not available with the dept.

Dr Rajan Welukar assumed charge of the Vice Chancellor of the Mumbai University in the afternoon of 7th July 2010 and 3 cases were filed in the Mumbai High Court challenging his appointment. To defend his appointment Dr Rajan Welukar sought the services of high profile private lawyers and the charges were paid from the coffers of the University which generates its revenue from the fees paid by students pursuing various courses offered by the University, such amount generated should have been used for betterment of services offered by the University and not to defend the appointment of the VC,said Anil Galgali. The VC could have used the services of the paneled lawyers whereby the University would not have incurred extra cost. This legal expenses which has now been paid by the University should be recovered from Dr Rajan Welukar demanded Anil Galgali, in letter's addressed to the Governor & the Chief Minister.

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Daily 3 deaths in Mumbai due to TB

TB is on its rise in Mumbai with almost 3 persons falling prey to it daily, this information was provided to RTI Activist Anil Galgali. Also the central govt provided MCGM with Rs 38.19 crores as funds to counter TB and almost 12430 people succumbed to the disease in the past 11 years.

RTI Activist Anil Galgali had filed an RTI query with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai seeking information about the total number of TB cases in Mumbai and also total deaths due to TB in the past 11 years. The Dy Executive Health Officer of the TB control dept of the MCGM informed that from 2004 to 2014 in these past 11 years total of 3,36,122 cases of people afflicted with TB were detected, out of which total 12430 people succumbed to the disease. As compared to a 6 year period of 2008 - 2013, there is a considerable decrease in the count of TB patients in 2014 which was 1017. Also as compared to 2 years of 2012 / 2013 the new TB cases got reduced in 2014 which was 30,477.

# Central govt funds

Anil Galgali had also sought information about the funds received from the central govt to control TB. In the information provided that the Mumbai District TB Control Society received a total of Rs 38,18,91,844 as funds in the past 10 years. The society received funds step wise in the past 10 years from 2004-05 to 2013-14, which kept increasing every year. It started with Rs 64,83,000 in the 10th annual to Rs 14,41,41,644 in the year 2013-14. Galgali further sought information about the usage of these funds during the period, which the MCGM tried to divert by giving just audit head wise revenue expenditure from year 2010-11 to 2015-16

# Expenses of program at Marriott borne by NGO

Galgali also sought information about the program conducted at J W Marriott to propagate a message for TB free Mumbai. The Dy Executive Health Officer informed that the program was sponsored by a NGO named Global Health Strategies, all the expenses for the program was also borne by the organisation and MCGM did not incur any cost for the program. It also claimed that Medical education and Awareness creation is the part of the ammended National TB Control Program and hence accordingly the program was organised according to the availability and convenience of Amitabh Bachchan.