By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With the Lokayukta Bill awaiting the Governor’s consent, local NGOs hoped that the bill would not be not assented hurriedly stating that it was an act passed by a scared group worried of the outcome of a strong Lokayukta.
According to CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing, the People of the State are not at all waiting for a weak Lokayukta, to be assented to by the Governor. “The Lokayukta Bill, prepared again and passed hurriedly by the New Legislature, should be rejected as it is not at all going to address the rampant corruption hitting the people of the State,” she said adding that the bill did not even solicit public opinion, and in fact ignored suggestions given to strengthen it.
Naming a few of the corruptions in the various departments, Kharshiing pointed out that with regards to the PDS, many rich influential people get listed as BPL, poor beneficiaries are given time limit to lift the Rice, and if they do not, they lose their monthly quota. “In the rural villages many BPL beneficiaries are made to take 5 kg dirty rice out of the 35 kg allotted monthly,” she alleged.
With regards to the MNREGS, Kharshiing said that most people in the villages are denied work and the JCB owners flourish, and those who dare complain or file RTI’s are threatened that the scheme will be stopped, and if there are complaints.
“The government officials also help to create the delay and malign the people who try to help those deprived of the scheme,” adding that the scheme has also encouraged a lot of corruption in the grass root level.
Coming to ICDS, the CSWO president alleged that the adulterated milk is being encouraged by the Social Welfare and fed to children below 6 years, and there is no action taken in spite of complaints and reports, as it involves influential officers.
In the Health sector, Kharshiing said the Megha Health Insurance Scheme was a bogus health insurance which allows hardly any discount to patients, who are having the card and many patients especially the poor are made to procure injections and medicines from private Hospitals.
In the education field, the Midday meal Scam is rampant where the meal is not served regularly, while the rice is shown to be lifted, and some schools corrupting and showing excess children, she added.
“Then there is the job frustration where it was seen that relatives of the Politicians and the Officers are employed through the back door, and also most parents pay for the job depriving those who have no money and patrons”, Kharshiing alleged.
She also pointed out that there is corruption with regards to Constructions whereby Leshka Myntdu Project, Housing Project, Roads, Bridges, MUDA were seen violating own bye laws allowing for construction private Hotel in Parking lot, etc.
“The Tribal lands are being grabbed in the name of third class development, and Government is ignoring the reports on acquisition of land from forged documents,” she said.
Referring to rise in crimes, Kharshiing said that the Police select whom to go after and negotiate with the real perpetrators. “The police pile false cases on many youth who may have committed one mistake and who are led astray by the very corruption bred by those in Governments which is not at all major as the SCAMs that shake the state and since the relatives of these youth cannot bribe, they are threatened if they complain about torture, illegal arrests,” she alleged.
She also mentioned that there is corruption in the realms of the judiciary where the case Diaries of the Police go missing. “The list of Corruption goes on, and on, but Government ignores and tries desperately to malign and get after those who try to expose them,” she added.