Mangaluru: The Urban Poverty Alleviation Cell of Mangaluru City Corporation distributed various facilities worth Rs 88.71 lakh to 952 beneficiaries at a programme in the city on Friday. The facilities were distributed under 24.10% of fund for the welfare of SC/ST, 7.25% grant for the welfare of poor and 3% of fund earmarked by the MCC for the welfare of disabled persons.

Accordingly, during 2016-17, facilities worth Rs 1.97 crore for 1,706 beneficiaries have been given, MCC Deputy Commissioner (Administration) Gokuldas Nayak said. The facilities distributed are ‘poshana’ allowance of Rs 35.40 lakh for 590 beneficiaries, educational assistance of Rs 10.55 lakh for 218 students, aid worth Rs 2.68 lakh for seven physically challenged persons and two-wheelers fitted worth Rs 4.20 lakh with additional tyres for five persons.

In addition, 38 persons were given a sum of Rs 4.85 lakh for non-academic activities, including representing the state- and national-level sports events and Rs 75,000 was given for five institutions striving for the welfare of physically challenged persons. A sum of Rs 18.21 lakh were distributed among 33 beneficiaries for self-employment. A total of 15 beneficiaries were given a sum of Rs 8.30 lakh for the construction of pucca houses, Rs 75,000 for 12 beneficiaries for water connections, Rs 2.67 lakh for 27 beneficiaries for the construction of toilets and Rs 20,000 for a benefiaciry for the repair of a house. In addition, the MCC has also sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 30 lakh for 60 persons to purchase autorickshaws.

Speaking on the occasion, District-in-Charge Minister B Ramanath said people with special needs require society’s empathy and not sympathy. They need the support of the society to lead a dignified life. The government has introduced a number of programmes for the benefit of the poor to improve their lifestyle, he added. Pointing at the corporators who remained absent to the meeting, Rai said the corporators should attend such programmes and be a part of the society rather than looking into their personal ego. Development of the society should be the agenda of the city corporation, he advised.

When the facilities like two-wheeler fitted with two extra tyres and distribution of artificial limbs, wheelchairs for the physically challenged were announced, the benefiaciries had a tough time in reaching the stage to receive the facilities due to the lack of ramp at Town Hall. They faced a tough time accessing the stage. A beneficairy who was crawling had tough time in climbing the steps.

Though the Town hall was renovated by spending a huge amount in 2015-16, the authorities had failed to ensure that it is disable-friendly by providing ramp facilities inspite of the government and High Court and Supreme Court’s directions to make all the government buildings disabled-friendly.

Standing Committee on Public Health, Education and Social Justice chairperson Nagaveni, who staged a protest in the MCC council meeting on Thursday accusing the mayor of keeping her in dark about the programme on distributing various facilities to the needy under Urban Poverty Allevation Cell along with Deputy Mayor Rajaneesh and other senior corporators K Bhaskar, Naveen D’Souza, remained absent to the programme. In fact, the programme was related to the standing committee which Nagaveni heads. Standing Committee on Taxation, Appeals and Finance president Prathibha Kulai was also absent to the programme. Mayor Kavitha Sanil, MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava and others were present.