BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP), which has faced flak time and again for delayed payments to civic workers and contractors, has been clinging on to crores of rupees in cess collected towards the rehabilitation of beggars. Documents available with The New Indian Express, dated May 22 and addressed to the Palike commissioner, show that BBMP owes `130 crore from 2008 till date to the Central Relief Committee under the Social Welfare Department. As per the Karnataka Prohibition of
Beggary Act, 1975, a total of 3 per cent of the annual property tax is collected as beggar rehabilitation cess.
Beggars are picked up from the streets and lodged at the rehabilitation centre. They are further trained in farming, tailoring, handicrafts like mat making, weaving baskets and other activities. They also get employment that can earn them `4,000-5,000 per month. There are 14 rehabilitation centres in Karnataka and the one at Bengaluru houses 700 people. Speaking to The New Indian Express about the pending cess, Chandra Naik, Secretary, Central Relief Committee, said, “We are forced to wait and made to run from pillar to post to claim the money which is rightfully ours.”
“After much coaxing, BBMP releases only part of the total payment. The delay in payment has been happening since 2008. Now they owe us a total of `130.31 crore. The rehabilitation centre is completely dependent on cess collected by municipal corporations and panchayats. BBMP tops the list in collection of the cess,”he added.Another official said, “The Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner has instructed BBMP to ensure such centres which are heavily dependent on the cess, be paid their dues. I visit BBMP thrice a month to hand over reminders, but they don’t clear the dues at one go.”
Kathyayini Chamraj, Executive Trustee, CIVIC, said, “The BBMP is getting rich by not paying any of its workers or even towards beggars rehabilitation. It is tragic because as tax payers, we have to pay the cess and also end up giving alms to beggars. The rehabilitation centre might not have enough money to take care of the beggars. Hence, many of them end up begging on the streets.”Both Mayor Sampath Raj and BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad were not available to comment.