NGOs demand prompt allotment of funds

Funds allotted for the maintenance of four night shelters in the city appear to be caught in a bureaucratic delay.
The central government provides funds under the National Livelihood Mission (NULM) for shelters for the homeless destitute people. The corporation runs the night shelters which are maintained by NGOs. The NGOs demand the corporation to sanction the allotted amount promptly. The disbursal is usually delayed by at least 6-8 months, say NGOs.

The government provides up to Rs37 for a person a day. The amount can be claimed by the NGOs after submitting documents monthly.

“It is difficult to submit the documents every month and hence I submit once in 6 months. The process is long as the files must get through three officials starting from the zonal officer. It usually takes more than six months to almost a year to receive the funds,’’ said a caretaker of one of the homes.

He said that the shelter didn’t receive even basic amenities like cots, kisstchen utensils as promised. “We run the shelter with support from the donors,” he said.

Activists say that they do not want to blame the civic body since the state of destitute people would have been worse if not for the corporation’s initiative to run shelters.

“We just request the corporation to extend a little more support,’’ said an activist.

“I am glad and happy for the big housing facility. I received other amenities from sponsors. It would be more helpful if we could get the sanctioned amount on time and the amenities assured as per the tender,” says another worker.

A corporation official said it would be easy for them to provide funds if the NGOs submit the records every month. “We allot the funds as soon as we receive the files. Nobody makes an intentional delay. We have increased the tender duration up to three years to monitor a shelter’s progress,” he said.