Journalism of Courage
The civic body funding the Pune International Marathon is again raising eyebrows,with the Sajag Nagrik Manch on Monday urging the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to first ask the organisers to submit expenditures made in the last five years,before thinking of sanctioning Rs 25 lakh for this years run,to be held on Sunday.
Several citizens groups had objected to PMC funding the run as the organisers had not submitted details of the earlier expenditure.
After such objections from citizens group,the Rs 14.5 lakh for medals and trophies for last years event had been held back by the civic body
The standing committee has got previous years funds of Rs 14.5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for this year,as budgetary allocation. The proposal was tabled by Congress leaders Abhay Chhajed and Arvind Shinde, said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
The sanction by standing committee has come despite the organisers failing to produce details of expenditure made for the event in the last five years,he said,adding that the participants are charged Rs 500 for the full Marathon and Rs 300 for the half-marathon while there are many sponsors,too .PMC money is public money and it is necessary to furnish expenditure details,said Velankar.
The Pune International Marathon Trust clarified that they never asked for any funds and it was the PMC that makes budgetary provision for it. The sanctioning of fund is done by PMCs accounts department. Thus,it is not part of Trust accounts,it said.
