AAP’s Raviraj Kale Demands Probe into Akanksha Foundation’s Bills
Seeks CSR Funding Audit, Warns of Protest Against PCMC Payment Under Alleged Pressure
Pimpri-Chinchwad : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and state president of its Yuva Aghadi, Raviraj Kale, has urged the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) not to release pending bills to the Akanksha Foundation under alleged political and administrative pressure. He has demanded an inquiry into the foundation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and the financial implications of the civic body’s decision to fund the operation of six English-medium primary schools.
Kale said the decision to shift the financial responsibility for operating schools previously supported through corporate CSR funds to the municipal corporation was taken during the tenure of then Municipal Commissioner and administrator Shekhar Singh. He claimed that the decision had faced opposition from teacher organisations, social activists and political leaders, who had warned that it would increase the financial burden on the civic body.
The Akanksha Foundation had been operating five English-medium primary schools run by PCMC for around 11 years. Following the foundation’s communication that CSR funding was insufficient to meet operational expenses, the civic administration initiated a tender process for school management. The process also included a school in Dighi, taking the total to six schools with approximately 3,450 students.
The initial tender estimated expenditure of around ₹82 crore over five years, based on an annual cost of ₹47,121 per student. Despite two extensions, the foundation was the sole bidder. Following negotiations, the annual cost was reduced to ₹23,500 per student, with the five-year contract valued at ₹40.53 crore. The proposal received approval during Singh’s tenure.
Kale questioned why the civic body should bear the expenditure when the schools had previously relied on CSR funding. He also alleged that calls from political offices and other quarters were being made to secure payment of the foundation’s pending bills.
He demanded an audit of the CSR funds received by the foundation over the past five years and the current financial year, along with scrutiny of contractual obligations, expenditure records and available funding before any payment is approved.
“Bills should not be cleared by succumbing to political or administrative pressure. The foundation’s CSR receipts, contractual obligations and accounts must be thoroughly examined before the civic body releases any payment. If the administration fails to act, we will launch an intense protest outside the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation headquarters,” Kale warned.
