SHILLONG, Dec 15: The United Democratic Party (UDP), a component of the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, on Thursday said FOCUS and FOCUS+ programmes are politically-motivated.
“The sole intention of this flagship initiative is to buy votes in the forthcoming Assembly polls,” UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh told The Shillong Times.
According to him, the decision to implement the FOCUS programmes in the urban centres is a flagrant violation of the norms. He said the scheme was rural-based and meant for the farmers when it was initiated in 2011.
Lyngdoh said it was launched in the West Shillong constituency in the presence of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
“How can a government programme be announced at the rally of a political party? The scheme, meant for the farmers, was announced at a programme to welcome the office bearers of the NPP of West Shillong,” the UDP working president said.
He said the violation of the norms would lead to major complications in the future.
“There will be problem at some point of time about the list of beneficiaries since there are no agricultural land in the constituency. The violation of the norms is subject to be reviewed by the next government,” Lyngdoh said.
He asked what will happen if the next government asks the beneficiaries to refund the amount. “We will go all-out and explain it to the people. We will also question the implementation of the programme in urban centres,” Lyngdoh said.
He said the petition seeking a ban on freebies distributed by political parties before elections is still under the active consideration of the Supreme Court. In August this year, the apex court had referred the petition to a three-judge bench.
UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh also questioned the implementation of the FOCUS programmes in Shillong.
“I have no issues if Rs 5,000 is given to farmers. But are there farmers in constituencies like Nongthymmai, Malki, Laitumkhrah, Jaiaw and Mawprem? And if the scheme is meant for the poor and marginalised, where is the space to cultivate in urban Shillong?” Mawthoh asked.
He said the urban poor struggle to even get rented houses. “So, where is the space for a kitchen garden?” he asked.
He demanded a clarification from the CM.
He said he would appreciate if the CM could spell out clearly the objectives of the FOCUS scheme in urban areas. If he does not, it will be construed as a ploy to woo voters, he said, pointing out that the government is struggling to pay salaries to teachers, contractual workers, health workers etc.
“What will be the output of the scheme and how it will be measured in terms of benefit?” Mawthoh asked.
Stating that when the government is struggling to pay salaries to teachers, contractual workers, health workers etc, he said, “
“I would like to know what will be the output of the scheme? How it will be measured in terms of benefit,” Mawthoh questioned.
