State Govt orders inquiry into Sena-BJP govt grant for disabled

State Govt orders inquiry into Sena-BJP govt grant for disabled
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 3: The State Government has ordered an inquiry into the grant that the previous Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government had given in one day to schools and hostels for the handicapped.

Social Welfare Minister Jaywant Awale told reporters that 180 schools and 222 hostels for the handicapped were given letters of intent in one day by the earlier government.

He said that this was absolutely wrong on the part of the previous government and a stay order has been granted on the letters of intent. He further pointed out there were various loopholes in the functioning of 200 schools for the handicapped and the secretary of the Social Welfare Department has been asked to conduct an inquiry.

Awale refused to comment on the action the Democratic Government was going to take against former social welfare minister Babanrao Gholap who was arrested in the Awami Bank scam. He said that the matter was sub-judice. However, he said that a departmental inquiry was in process against M Appalwar, former managingdirector of the Mahatama Phule Development Corporation, for his role in the Awami Bank and other scams. Awale said that if Appalwar, who is an IAS officer, was found guilty, the State would recommend that the Centre suspend him.

Meanwhile, the government announced the National Awards for Handicapped Employees in all sectors for the year 1998.

The recipients of the award, which consists of Rs 3000 cash, a recommendation letter and other benefits, are Sharanappa Pujari (Pune), Sangeeta Agarkar (Thane), Nutan Deshmukh (Pune), Milind Sathe (Pune), Gopal Shimpi (Nandurbar), Rajesh Parmar (Mumbai), Fakirchand Kunhe (Ahmednagar) and Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited, Pimpri.