Funds for welfare of Dalits used to pay lawyer's fees for bungalow purchase

The Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to woo the Dalit voters in a state that goes to local body polls in a few months. Cash-strapped though it is, the Devendra Fadnavis-led government has decided to dip into the funds allocated for welfare of scheduled castes and tribes so as to pay a UK-based solicitor his fee for fixing the deal of the London property where Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar stayed during 1921-22.

To acquire the 2,050 sq ft, three-storey bungalow, the state would pay solicitor Simon Ross from Seddons Solicitors 10% of the asking price of the Rs30 crore bungalow, which works out to Rs3 crore.

The solicitor's fee would be paid by the Mahatma Phule Magasvargiya Vikas Mahamandal, says a circular issued by the government on Wednesday. The move highlights how a hand-to-mouth government is patronising tokenism even as a large proportion of the Dalit population in the state is still living below the poverty line.

The Magasvargiya Vikas Mahamandal is a state-owned corporation constituted in 1978. The corporation's objective is to help scheduled castes and tribes by offering training and financial assistance to help them get self-employed. The corporation receives about Rs200 crore per year from the centre and the state in a 49% to 51% ratio.

The government has obtained the details of the solicitor's bank account, and is now in the process of transferring money to the account through the Mahamandal.

Though it is unclear if the purchase cost of the bungalow would be defrayed from the Mahamandal's funds, a highly placed source in the corporation said, "I am afraid that the rest of the amount might also be withdrawn from the Mahamandal."

Interestingly, the government is moving so fast on this case that the decision to transfer money into the solicitor's account was taken within days of him being appointed on Feb3. The state decided to acquire the bungalow in London last month.

It is valued at Rs30 crore, but the final cost could amount to Rs38 crore including registration and legal costs. Dr. Ambedkar stayed at the bungalow situated on 10, King Henry Road, NW3, in 1921-22, while pursuing higher studies at the London School of Economics. The structure would be converted into a museum-cum-memorial by the Maharashtra government.

The development has caused Dalit leaders to become dismayed. Dr Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar said, "It is shocking that the Maharashtra government uses the Dalit welfare fund to buy property. We strongly oppose this move."

Shivajirao Moghe, a Dalit leader from the Congress and the ex-minister for social justice said, "When a large number of Dalits are still struggling for livelihood and to get a roof over their heads, using welfare funds for the London memorial is just unimaginable. Fadnavis must clarify if he intends to refund the money to the Mahamandal later."

Sanjay Vairal, president of the SC/ST students and teachers association, said, "It is unfair that the Fadnavis government decides to spend the welfare fund for a London-based property which would be of no use to the needy for whom Babasaheb struggled his whole life."

Rajkumar Badole, the minister of social justice, Maharashtra didn't respond to calls and messages. An official from the social justice department, however, justified the purchase. He said, "Since arranging funds for the whole project would have taken some time, it has been decided to use the funds of the Mahamandal to pay the solicitor's fee."