Rahul’s dictate on weeding out graft, installing Lokayukta
SHILLONG: Weeding out corruption, installing a strong Lokayukta and streamlining of PDS as demanded by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will be a difficult task for Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma who was present during the meeting of the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Friday.
The education scam, faulty public distribution system, ICDS scam and a weak Lokayukta Act in the State are the issues which will confront Chief Minister while ensuring a corruption-free Government as demanded by the AICC.
As far as PDS is concerned, there were reports of names of dead people figuring as beneficiaries of PDS in parts of State.
The State Government is yet to institute any independent probe to find out the lacunae in implementation of effective public distribution system.
Moreover, many schemes under ICDS are not reaching the beneficiaries resulting in perennial mal nutrition among the children.
Though the Chief Minister had given commitment in Delhi meet to Gandhi to do whatever he can to address these issues, the ground reality is different in Meghalaya.
The Government has notified the twice amended Meghalaya Lokayukta Amendment Act, 2013 in November which does not attract the common man to file complaints.
Moreover, there are many loopholes in the Act as many persons are exempted from its purview.
With Gandhi insisting that the State Lokayuktas should go in line with the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013, the Chief Minister will have to make amendments to the Meghalaya Lokayukta Amendment Act, 2013.
Another option before the Government is to draft a new Lokayukta Act as the meeting in Delhi decided that by February 28 all the Congress-ruled states should enact new Lokayukta legislations.
As far as checking corruption is concerned, the state Government has not acted against the higher ups who were involved in alteration of score sheets of eligible candidates for the appointment of teachers.
“As far as corruption is concerned, the MUA Government is yet to show that it means business”, RTI activist Michael Syiem said.
According to Syiem, the current Meghalaya Lokyukta Act will only protect the corrupt than fighting against the corrupt. “Then how can the Chief Minister take action against the minister who is involved in education scam”, Syiem asked.
It was on December 20 that the Campaign for an Independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya has demanded immediate amendment of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, to bring it in line with the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013, passed by the Parliament.
The Campaign for an Independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister said that the State Government had not shown any desire to set up a strong and independent Lokayukta.
According to campaigners, the State Government is more interested in protecting the corrupt rather than creating a mechanism to eradicate corruption from politics.
“When we met the Chief Minister, we told him that if there is strong anti-corruption body, development initiatives of the Government will reach the grass root”, Syiem said. According to Syiem, the activists are waiting for a favourable reply from the Government.