Cash-strapped KCB to raise donations for devp work

The decision to raise public donations for developmental work,enabling people to get tax waivers,was taken at the cantonment board meeting recently. It was decided that the cantonment board will form a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to raise donations on behalf of the cantonment board and those who provide the funds will be given tax waivers. Earlier at the cantonment board meeting,it was decided that the board will take donations through an NGO as the cantonment board itself was not a registered charitable trust.

This decision has come in the backdrop of cantonment board members complaining shortage of funds for carrying out developmental works. Members even blame the cantonment board for failing to pursue with the state and central governments.

“The cantonment board is facing shortage of funds and the state and central governments don’t give adequate money. Due to paucity of funds,developmental works are not being taken up at desired pace,” said KCB member Sunil Jadhav.

Cantonment board member S L Kamble said the issue came up earlier at a meeting with the president of cantonment board and was later taken up at the cantonment board meeting as well. “The meeting was held earlier in which we proposed the need for an NGO which could be registered with charity commissioner that can take the donations from people. All the donors will get exemption and waiver of income tax.”

“There are some people who want to donate develop infrastructure of hospitals and schools but we are unable to take donations as we can’t provide people the exemptions in income tax,” added Kamble. “The donations can be used for purchase of machines for hospitals and building infrastructure for schools,” he added. “We earlier talked to some NGOs to provide medicines to the cantonment hospital. But these NGOs informed that they can’t donate. So we needed to constitute our own NGO.” Kamble said the NGO will having members from general public,cantonment board,including official members and elected members.