A Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker on Tuesday alleged that the Maharashtra government grants more funds for the upkeep of animals in fodder camps than for children living in orphanages and state-run child homes, reported PTI. Anil Bonde, who represents the Morshi Assembly constituency in Amravati district, said the government should increase the grants for children's homes to at least Rs 1,500 per month from the existing budget of Rs 900 for able-bodied children and Rs 990 for children with special needs.
"The state government pays Rs 70 to a fodder camp for the keep of an animal, while the orphanages and state-run children homes are paid Rs 30 for a child per day as a grant," Bonde said. About 255 fodder camps have been operating in drought-affected Latur, Osmanabad and Beed districts since August last year and their upkeep has cost the state exchequer around Rs 60 crore. There are 1,105 children's homes in the state, of which 1,062 are run by various registered NGOs.
An official from the state Women and Child Development Department said the NGOs have not received grants for the past three years. He said the department had asked for Rs 156 crore to pay pending dues, however, the state Finance Department has not sanctioned it yet. An official from the Finance Department said it is the NGOs' responsibility and not that of the government to raise funds for the upkeep of the homes.
"Since these NGOs are registered with the Charity Commissioner, they can raise funds from society. The government aid is to support them in this social cause, but they should not depend on the government grants. In fact, it is their responsibility to raise the required funds to provide facilities to children," he said.
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