Dinesh Kamath's news 'Mayor keeps promise, 60,000/- p.m for maintenance of burial grounds' that was published in Newsband

Mayor keeps promise, 60,000/- p.m for maintenance of burial grounds

By Dinesh Kamath and Vijay Bhor

Above Picture:- Mayor Shri Mayor Sagar Naik giving the cheaque to Mr. Mohd Salim while Deputy Mayor, Shri Pattiwar and Shri Sinnakar watch on.

NAVI MUMBAI: In yet another significant move of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation with the efforts of the Mayor Shri Sagar Naik, the minorities having the burial grounds in Navi Mumbai will get Rs. 60,000/- per month for the maintenance and upkeep of it.

"It is for the first time in the history of India, that a Corporation like ours is giving help to the burial grounds" said Mayor Shri Sagar Naik while handing out the Cheques to 8 Trusts (4 Muslims, 3 Hindus and 1 Christian) out of the 22 burial grounds.

He added "We believe in equality and every community is the same! Under the able guidance of Shri Ganesh Naik, we have always shown that ‘We Are One’."

"We are very happy that the Mayor has taken the initiative and finally we have been recognized" said Mohd. Salim Shiekh, Chairman, Muslim Ekta Foundation.

Mr. G B Ramalingaya, Sharana Sankula Charitable Society said that it’s so nice that our voice has been heard and hope that our demands would be taken care off in future too.

According to sources, there are three categories defined by NMMC that is agreement between 1) CIDCO to NMMC and then to the Trust 2) CIDCO to Trust and only Trust. In the first phase the checks were issued to the trusts which had an agreement with NMMC. The others would be given once the legal formalities will be completed and requisite paper works done between CIDCO, NMMC and the Trust.

"Our three years of efforts and the support of the Mayor has enabled us to see that the NMMC has come forward to regularize this in the City of Navi Mumbai. We will take this as a precedence and go to every Corporation in India and request them to do the same" said Dr Jayakar Ellis, General Secretary- India, National Christian Council.

"My follow up has at last borne fruit by this wonderful gesture" said Ex Corporator Mohd. Siraj

The money given is meant to cover the cost of cleaning, maintenance, security as well as the provision of essential manpower at the place. The following eight organizations received the assistance:

1.       Sharana Sankula, (Plot No 12, Sector-18) Airoli

2.       Airoli Masjid e Aqsa Trust (Poot No 11-14, Sector 18) Airoli.

3.       Airoli Christian Welfare Association (Plot No11-14) Airoli

4.       Anjuman Khairul Islam Trust (Plot No 112-113 B) Sec.14 Koperkhairane

5.       Dawoodi Bohra Jamat – Anjuman e Fakri, Plot 113A) Koperkhairane

6.       Nurul Islam Trust, Plot No 7 & 8, Sector-27) Vashi

7.       Sharana Sankula, (Plot No 7 & 8, Sec-27) Vashi

8.       Dashanaam Gosavi Samaj (Plot No 7 & 8, Sector-27) Vashi

Each one of the organizations was given Rs 60,000 by cheque which were handed over by Mayor Sagar Naik.