Government Gets Control Over 30% of Funds Donated @ Shirdi

[rOhit beHaL]

SHREE SAI BABA SANSTHAN TRUST`SHIRDI
EMPOWERED WITH AUTHORITY TO GIVE GRANTS  
01st June`2011

The Maharashtra State Cabinet has cleared a proposal seeking amendment to
the "Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Ordinance 2004", to empower India's second-richest Temple Trust with
the Authority to give Financial Assistance & Grants to the Boards,
Companies or Institutions falling under the control of the State.

This Cabinet decision is spurred by the Government's requirement of funds to implement a slew of Infrastructure and
Development projects at Shirdi, the holy land of one of the most revered Spiritual Gurus, Shri Sai Baba, whose devotees span
across not only India, but all continents, and Baba's Temple is visited by lakhs of people throughout the year.

The Temple falls under the jurisdiction of the State Department for Law & Justice (L&J) and is managed by the Trust,
formed under the "Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Act 2004", which was amended by way of an Ordinance, the same year.

According to the Shirdi Trust's Chief Accounts Officer, Shri.Hemant Jadhavar,
1) The Temple's annual Income through Donations, Rent and Interests, among others, is close to Rs.300 crore.
2) The Temple's Investments in Bank Deposits etc., are to the tune of Rs.529 crore.
3) The overall worth of the Temple's Property is nearly Rs.1,000 crore.

Utilisation of the Trust funds is governed by section 21 of this Ordinance. As of now, the section does not empower the Trust
to extend funds to State-controlled Boards, Companies or Institutions for purposes like Development Projects.

Responding to a proposal moved by the L&J department,
the State Cabinet has decided to amend section 21 of the Ordinance to facilitate the Trust to fund Infrastructure & Development Projects.

In 2010, the Government had launched the construction of the Rs.118-crore phase I of the Shirdi Airport project over a 750-acre land
at Kakdi village, about 10 km from Shirdi, but the same has been held up for nearly 6 months now owing to paucity of funds.

The Government had urged the Shirdi Temple Trust to provide financial assistance of Rs.50 crore for the Airport project,
which is being implemented by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company,
a special purpose vehicle headed by the Chief Minister.

It's not just the Airport, but funds are also required to operationalise a Rs.200-crore makeover plan for Shirdi,
mainly through the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The plan was cleared in July 2008 by the government,
which had also announced formation of the Shirdi Development Authority to recast Shirdi Township on the lines of Tirupati.

Things haven't progressed much on the makeover front,
barring few steps like acquisition of land for the Ring Road project and some Road-widening works.

Overall, the Plan mentioned projects like construction of a 6 km long Skywalk around Shirdi Temple,
Footpaths, Pedestrian Pathways, a 10-level-high multi-layer Parking lot, Ring Road and a bypass road for the Traffic.
Similarly, widening and reconstruction of around 25 km of road in and around Shirdi finds mention.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[rOhit beHaL]

- GOVERNMENT GETS CONTROL OVER 30% OF FUNDS DONATED @ SHIRDI -
28th July`2011

The Maharashtra Government has set its eyes on the large funds donated by devotees @ Shirdi.
And so in-order to fulfill its own duties towards the State,
the Government has decided to utilize the donations offered by devotees at the Shirdi Shrine.

On Wednesday 27th July`2011,
the Maharashtra Government passed the Bill seeking an amendment to the "Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Ordinance 2004",
which gives the Government the right to access up-to 30% of the donated funds collected by the Shirdi Sansthan Trust through devotee's.
This Bill was passed at the Maharashtra Legislative Council without any discussion what-so-ever and irrespective of the huge political opposition
against this idea till now, there was no opposition by any political party when this Bill got actually passed.

So now,
the Maharashtra Government legally has got the right to utilize up-to 30% of the funds collected by the Sansthan through donations.
It can use these funds to implement a slew of Infrastructure, Development and welfare projects at Shirdi.
In other words, the Shirdi Sansthan Trust now has the Authority to give Financial Assistance & Grants to the Boards,
Companies or Institutions falling under the control of Maharashtra Government.

The Government can now use the devotee's donated funds for the development of the Shirdi Airport, Railway Station,
Bus Depots, Car-Parking and other projects which were stuck earlier due to the Government's lack of funds like the construction
of a 6 km long Skywalk around the Shirdi Temple, Footpaths, Pedestrian Pathways, a 10-level-high multi-layer Parking lot, Ring Road
and a bypass road for the Traffic, widening & reconstruction of around 25 km of road in and around Shirdi etc










We have the mOst Successful gOvernment Of all because:
1) It Failed to Curb cOrruptiOn.
2) It Failed to cOtrOl InflatiOn.
3) It Failed to Curb TerrOrism.
4) It Failed to stOp Scams.
5) It Failed to retrieve mOney from Swiss Banks.
6) It Failed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill !!!

nOw hOw dOes all this make them a Successful gOvernment?
Well, because they have been simply Successful in FAILING on all AccOunts !!!




rhit beHaL

 

[rOhit beHaL]

- AMENDMENT TO SAI BABA TRUST CLEARED BY MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY -
09th Aug`2011

The Maharashtra State Assembly on Monday 08th Aug`2011 approved an amendment to the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust Bill,
paving the way for an International Greenfield Airport at Shirdi.
This is the first time a religious trust will assist in funding the development of an Airport in Maharashtra.
 
The Legislative Council had cleared the amendment last week but had come under attack from the Opposition,
who accused the government of eyeing money from religious trusts to help build infrastructure since its own coffers were empty.

Leader of Opposition, Eknath Khadse also said this was an attack on Hindu religious Trusts
as a similar move to control religious trusts of minorities would never be made by the government.  

The Amendment specifically states that the Shirdi Trust fund money can be utilised for various transport-related facilities,
including a Bus Terminal, better Roads or Railway related Infrastructure, besides the Airport.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com




Allah Sai,
rOhit beHaL