However, not much is being spoken about the renewal of the MoU between the trust and the NGO even after knowing the fact that the husband of MMC chairperson is the secretary at the trust. There has also been less clarity on the purpose of renewing the MoU instead of going for competitive bidding.
The one who alleges scam said, “The Chairperson Mrs Babita Prabhudessai should not have authorized payment to SGAWT, when her husband Dilip Prabhudessai is the secretary of the trust.”
Sandeep Azrenkar, a Trust representative respondent saying, “The SGAWT secretary is not an office of profit and is taking payments against the salaries of the employees. The question of family men taking advantage would have risen if there was an electrical contract and if it was tendered and awarded to Dilip, our secretary as he is an electrical contractor. There is no profiteering involved here.”
On the financial side, the accuser says, “Having personally observed the phenomenal increase in stray dogs in Margao, we strongly believe that SGAWT has been illegally receiving a sum of Rs 25,000-50,000 per month from the MMC, though no actual work of sterilization or immunization is carried out by them.”
Rejecting the allegation, the trust’s treasurer said, “The SGAWT was ranking first as per mission rabies report. State Animal Welfare Board prepares a report every year and in 2015 for the first time we did over 1000 sterlisations and were ranked number 3 in the state which is itself a certificate to our work.
On the payments Azrenkar clarified saying, “We take payments under one account head that is salaries and wages and sterlisation is borne by us and hence there is no question of verifying the work we have done.’
The NGO has also argued that the queries raised on the bills without signatures is a bizarre as no money was taken for sterlisation and the salaries of the four employed persons is on salary receipt.
The trust representative argued, “None of the States in India and their councils or other local self governments have competitive bidding and tendering as this is the job of specialised NGOs in animal handling and also because it is a non-profit organisation which requires no tendering,” the trust pointed out.
Meanwhile, MMC Chief Officer Yashwant Tawde said, “There is a court direction and according to that the council has adopted a resolution and appointed the agency. The payments have not gone to individual, but to the trust against the fuel and driver salaries according to the MOU.”
Fatorda MLA and SGWTA President Vijai Sardesai has claimed that he has donated around Rs 1.50 lakh to the trust over a period of 15 months. He further stated that it was on his invitation and insistence that Vijai Sardesai and Dilip Prabhudesai joined as trustees in 2012, which was during the tenure of the last council.
Azrencar ruled out any favouritism, nepotism and illegality as the NGO is sharing a social responsibility which is otherwise of the civic body. Such works are sourced out to NGOs by almost all the Municipal Councils for effectiveness and better results.
Sandeep Azrencar further said that due to resource constraints the shelter at Sonsoddo can maintain only 20 cages whereas in other municipal areas run by other NGOs such as PFA and PAWS the capacity created is more than 100 cages.
The MMC chief couldn’t be contacted.
