Netas compete to donate salary for drought relief

An ongoing horse race between cagey coalition partners Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may benefit the state's populace, particularly those residing in drought-hit areas. While the Democratic Front government requires massive funds to tide over the crisis, cabinet ministers and legislators from the two parties are vying with each other in making contributions for the cause. Several Congress netas have come forward and donated a month's salary.

Naseem Khan

After NCP leader and home minister RR Patil forwarded a cheque of Rs 57,000 to Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan, Congress leader and textile minister Naseem Khan too followed suit and put in his salary. An interesting part of the ministers' benevolence is that neither has the CM issued any specific directions in this regard, nor has the cabinet made any decisions regarding the same.

Soon after RR Patil and Naseem Khan's announcements, Congress legislators from Mumbai decided to contribute as well. Taking this a step further, now Congress MLAs from the city will donate their monthly pay along with allowances for drought relief. However, not many NCP legislators have so far attempted to emulate their leader RR Patil.

Rs 25 crore from Siddhivinayak
Siddhvinayak Temple Trust has announced Rs 25 crore for the drought relief fund and Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) has decided to donate water tanks. Government officers have announced that they'll tender two days' salary and teachers will donate a day's pay for the cause. u00a0