TOTAL FUND OF MPLAD SCHEME OF ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS SHOULD BE DIVERTED FOR CORONA-CRISIS

Bureau,Odishabarta

DELHI:Some Parliamentarians have started self-publicity by announcing financial-grants from their respective MPLAD funds in a manner as if they are giving these from their own pockets. Funds meant for such a highly criticized scheme at discretion of all Parliamentarians should be auto-transferred to huge fund required to meet heavy financial crisis suspected after Corona-crisis is over for many years to come.

Already Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament and Planning Commission termed MPLADS useless and corruption-generating. A TV-sting caught Parliamentarians taking bribe to approve schemes to be funded through MPLADS. The then Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chaterjee had echoed likewise to scrap the scheme. Many MPs and MLAs are over-generous to fund their favourite organisations from this scheme even though such funding may have nothing to do with public-welfare. It may be recalled that trusts floated by the then Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla were generously funded by Parliamentarians cutting across party-lines from MPLADS. All such suggested reforms should be implemented both at the centre and in states.

Charity should start from home. Central government should announce immediate abolition of the scheme, further advising states to abolish similar schemes in their states. Tough economic measures further require abolition of pensions and other post-retirement facilities for all those in legislature and judiciary since the same has already been abolished for government-staff. If such strict financial-discipline is started for law-makers, then it may not be difficult for masses to bear burnt of tough-most fiscal measures because of Corona-spread in time to come.

Input;Ms.Madhu