In a democracy the final decision must rest with the people and its impact on the common man the first concern! The CAG reports and public opinion is generally not taken seriously. The elected representatives have so far been deciding their own hikes in salaries and perks unanimously, which is ethically and morally wrong, discarding the normal principle that a self interested party making the decision cannot be expected to be unbiased. There must therefore be a personally uninterested and unbiased appointed Committee set up for the purpose. Representatives should be from all the four Estates namely Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, Media and including the ordinary citizens since it is from public funds!
There are wide disparities in many States regarding their perks and privileges they have legislated for themselves. A nation wide survey and public opinion could be sought by the said Committee appointed for the purpose. The details of expenditure in connection with foreign jaunts, their raison detre and effectiveness have to be always evaluated. The vast expenditures in elections by parties, especially the party in power, the expenditure incurred using public services like electricity, water, transport, administrative staff, food and drinks in their rallies and private parties from public funds have to be accountable! The expenses in 5 star hotels and Corporates funding them must also be made public, if the government is serious in tackling corruption and professes a transparent and accountable government! The public has a right to know as quid pro quo contributes to corruption and influences governance. No matter what, it has always been “acche din” for the ruling party.
The use and even overstay in heavy maintenance and unmonitored renovation in palatial accommodation, the cabinet committee on accommodation permitting excesses and irregularities, the vast expenses on SPG/ police escorts etc need to be drastically curbed. The AAP alleging that the Delhi LG behaves like a Viceroy and the Centre like the Queen is a perception the common man understands when the mighty VIP syndrome is exhibited by most of our elected representatives and bureaucrats. Modi calls himself Pradhan Sevak presumably to underline VIPs are there to serve, not be served! Why is government the biggest litigant in the courts?
The question of political advertisements for self aggrandizement having reached indecent proportions reached the courts! Why do politicians forget that we are not their subjects? Public have to rely on PILs for excesses by the government. Informing the public can be done with no need for full page colour photographs of honorable elected representatives! Goa seems to be leading where elected representatives love to see the newspapers plastered with their photographs with greetings and good wishes from all sorts of industries, organizations and people for their birthdays or even hot mixing of roads! I personally think it is sycophancy and disgusting.
We now come to the administration where there also seems to be absolutely no accountability. Take the PWD. Roads are dug up without coordination with other departments. The hot mixing is done, that too which will not last one monsoon, and the very next day after completion someone digs it up for laying a pipeline or cable or some other purpose. Pavements are not completed, material left unattended for months to get spoilt or pilfered. Gaping trenches or holes left unmarked and unattended. Not to mention causing hazards to public transport and pedestrians. Digging invariable cuts some cable or service and the unnecessary expenditures are simply written off with no accountability or bringing better procedures or some consequences, no one except the public gets punished with impunity!
We recently had an emergency meeting with the Collector, our MLA, police and traffic authorities at the O’Coqueiro traffic Island to sort the traffic mess created around Defence Colony (whose main road is now a heavy traffic highway by-pass) due blocking of the CHOGM road access resulting in diverting traffic to dangerous six crossings streams at the Holy Family Church junction. It was shocking to find that there were no funds for traffic lights and a private individual in public interest, had to provide and be responsible for their installation and operation! Despite Supreme Court ruling, the mega advertising in connection with the visit of BJP President to Goa are a recent example. Ironically in UP, the BJP reportedly flays Akilesh for ignoring this ruling! There are likewise plenty of funds for foreign jaunts and high end cars and perks for the government authorities, but we are told no funds available for traffic lights, stopping accidents, endangering people’s lives, putting up warning signboards or emergency lighting!
Bihar CM Lalu Prasad spent his jail term comfortably in a guest house. Chairman of Sahara group reportedly has meetings with his top officials in a swanky conference room with leather lined chairs and 42 inch LED screen which is a guest house inside Tihar jail premises. There is no check on politicians executing their whims and fancies like Mayawati’s mega statues of many elephants. Party supremos and vested interests want to indulge in fantasies of Shivaji statue in the middle of the sea or Sardar Patel giant statue costing crores of rupees and the like, whilst there are malnourished mothers and children and 1001 urgent areas requiring those funds. The government has no will to deny themselves their VIP status, quirks and perks, even when sent to jail. Cabinet minister may be convicted, abscond for 2 months but without loss of pay and honorably take part in Vidhan Sabha sessions with special arrangements. If good sense does not prevail, it is high time to make all this an election issue, also demand legislation of strict procedures for audit and rules in utilizing of public funds with stringent consequences for non compliance. We need to guard the public coffers and insist on transparency and accountability in governance ensuring every paise is prudently well spent in public interest.
(The author is a retired naval officer.)
