On Holi, NDMC spent 91 lakh in gifting sweets

NEW DELHI: The civic body of Lutyens' zone, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), distributed sweets worth over Rs 91 lakh as ' welfare measure' to its staff on Holi this year, a reply under Right to Information Act has revealed. Last year, NDMC had distributed sweets worth Rs 30.20 lakh for its sanitation staff of health department and all Group D and contractual staff, the RTI reply to activist Subhash Agrawal said.

"In 2014, sweets were procured from Nathu Sweets at a total cost of Rs 91,95,070 for distribution to all NDMC employees on the eve of Holi," the reply said.

The increase in this year's sweets budget is justified by the civic body saying authorities decided that distribution of sweets on Holi will not be limited to sanitation staff and include all employees.

"This is a welfare measure. New Delhi Municipal Council has been distributing sweets to safai karamcharis on Diwali. This year, the authorities in consultation with senior officers decided to distribute sweets to all employees on Holi," it said. According to the reply, in 2010, sweets were procured from Karachi Halwa House at a total cost of Rs.5.52 lakh for distribution to the sanitation staff on Diwali.

"In 2011 and 2012, sweets were procured from Kaleva for Rs 6,70,163 for distribution to the sanitation staff," the reply said.

Agrawal said NDMC must clarify on the number of safai karmcharis and other employees who were given these sweets. "How can they use such a huge amount for buying sweets without issuing tenders? Also, data shows multiple times increase in the amount spent for the purpose in the last four years," he said.