Mangaluru: Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) collect funds for the welfare of the differently abled, but they do not use it for the said purpose”, opined Dakshina Kannada district unit of Red Cross Society President CA Shantharam Shetty on Sunday, May 5.

He was addressing the  conference of  differently abled of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district held in Town Hall, organised jointly by DK and Udupi district Association of Differently Abled and  DK district unit of Red Cross Society, wherein he lamented that many differently abled are striving hard to lead a happy life, but NGOs which collect fund for the upliftment of differently abled are misusing the funds.  

“Differently abled also pay tax to the government just like the rest of us. Hence, they are eligible to receive all the facilities from the government. Though the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has earmarked around Rs 70 lakh for the welfare of the differently abled, it is not been utilised properly”, he said.

Meanwhile, Shetty informed that Red Cross Society has come up with many programmes for the differently abled and it is ready to extend its helping hand to them in future too.

Ashley D’Souza, who secured medals in Special Olympics and Abdul Rahman, a bus driver engaged in social service were felicitated on the occasion. A total of 38 students, children of differently abled, were provided scholarship and around 22 people were provided medical aid on the same occasion.

Nitte University Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. M ShantharamShetty, who is also the honorary president of Association presided over the programme. Association president Muralidhar Nayak, Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Usman K, Assistant Director Yamuna, Red Cross Honorary Secretary Prabhakar Sharma among others were present.