The MLA scheme, that gives legislators Rs 2 crore per year to use on development work in their respective constituencies, is open to abuse, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has told Highland Post.
Party spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said that without strict rules for implementation, the scheme can result in wasteful and unplanned expenditure that does not contribute to the development of Meghalaya’s economy.
“The MLA scheme at present has started to turn the people into slaves and they no longer have free will because they fear that if they don’t support a candidate they will be deprived of the MLA scheme while those in the good books of the MLA directly get it in their accounts in the form of various assistance,” Myrboh said.
He said that the only way to channel the MLA scheme the right way is to have strict criteria in place that will benefit everyone.
Many a time the scheme is used to ostensibly build homes for the poor but often the homes are really only for supporters of the MLAs. It would be more equitable if the legislator were not allowed to choose who the house should be built for but base the need strictly on a list of BPL families.
There has been sharp criticism of late after several sitting legislators used the MLA scheme to provide household goods for constituents. There was also disapproval of the flurry of giveaways with the February 27 election fast approaching.
“When you spend the MLA scheme to create infrastructure and assets in the constituency like schools, roads and footpaths, etc, which are for overall development, then everyone benefits and not only those who favoured the MLA,” Myrboh said. “The MLA scheme should also be strictly implemented every year and not only during an election and if the MLA does not utilise the funds available in a financial year, then those funds should lapse and not be carried over into another year.”
All this being said, he did see some good in having it.
“The plus point of the MLA scheme is that our government and the ministers do not function as ministers of the state but more like ministers of constituencies and favour and bring development only in party strongholds. So, without the MLA scheme, opposition members will be deprived of development work in their constituency,” Myrboh asserted.
‘Lack of rural jobs, infra leading to congestion in Shillong’
While there may be many other factors in Shillong’s appalling traffic congestion, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) suggested another – the failure to provide quality health, education and other facilities in rural areas, not to mention jobs.
Party spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said that there is a massive movement of people every day into the city because all the education and health institutions fall within the state capital.
“If we have proper schools and health institutions in villages, then migration of people will be lessened,” he said, adding that there is an immediate need for balanced development across the state.
Stating that the development of suburbs will be in the party manifesto, he said there is a need to develop areas that can be self-sustaining because construction of flyovers and other massive infrastructure projects would face huge problems because of land acquisition.
“They are talking about the New Shillong Township but the roads there are also narrow and they have not done anything in advance like road expansion, etc which will become very hard later on,” Myrboh opined.
