Aurangabad: The resolution passed by the civic administration’s general body on Wednesday to utilise the funds worth Rs 10.5 crore for people with disabilities (PwDs) has invited the wrath of activists of Prahar Apang Andolan who claim that the resolution was inappropriate and designed to benefit contractors.As many as 243 PwDs, who were on a hunger strike since Wednesday morning at the AMC headquaters, called off their agitation late on Thursday evening after the municipal corporation gave them in writing that it would rethink its proposal.The resolution passed on Wednesday reserves Rs 10.5 crore from the AMC budget to help PwDs live a dignified life from the socio-economic perspective.Of the funds allocated, AMC has decided to use Rs 2 crore for setting up a divyang assistance centre which will work towards providing emergency and regular healthcare. It has reserved Rs 3 crore for skill development training of the PwDs and a provision of upto 25% capex through various organisations.One crore has been reserved for distributing the fund to various organisations working for the welfare and rehabilitation of specially-abled persons. Another Rs 1 crore has been reserved for conducting activities like essay, drawing and sports competitions. AMC will use Rs 3 crore for making its buildings accessible. It has reserved only Rs 50 lakh for pension and sustenance allowance to persons with more than 80% disability.District chief of Prahar Apang Andolan Shivaji Gade has demanded that PwDs be allotted shops in the open spacesand milk booths to earn a livelihood. “The sports and cultural activities can be organised in Rs 10 to 20 lakh. AMC should not use funds reserved for PwD welfare for infrastructural modification of public buildings as accessibility is our basic right,” said Gade.Adding that persons with over 40% disability were eligible for central and state government schemes, Gade said AMC should not limit the distribution of sustenance allowance and pension for people with 80% disability.“AMC’s additional commissioner has given us a letter that a meeting will be held with the commissioner in eight days and necessary changes will be incorporated in the resolution,” said Gade hinting that the agiation would intensify if the meeting did not happen.

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