On VPP demand

MLAs are elected to represent their constituents in the Assembly and to articulate the needs of the constituency but without losing sight of the larger needs of the state. Unfortunately, the role of an MLA is not clearly understood in Meghalaya. People have the misconception that an MLA should resolve civic concerns like waste management, water supply, road repair and construction, treatment of sewage and also paying for medical bills; paying school fees and books for children of their constituents. The personal and the political are too interlinked and MLAs have forgotten their real duties. But this has also happened because MLAs themselves have patronised their constituents and made them dependent on their patronage.
According to the Constitution of India, MLAs are empowered to frame laws on all items in the state list and the concurrent list. They are also vested with financial powers where MLAs must give consent for any expenses made from the State Treasury. All grants and tax-raising proposals must be authorized by the MLAs for them to be executed and implemented for the development of the state. MLAs also exercise certain executive powers. They control the activities and actions taken by the Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers. The ruling government is answerable to the Legislative Assembly for all its decisions. A vote of no-confidence can be passed only by the MLAs of a state. They can also exercise Question Hour, Cut Motions, and Adjournment Motions to restrict the free run of the state government’s executive organ. The responsibilities of MLAs include introducing, debating and amending bills, making laws and voting on the subjects mentioned in the State List and Concurrent List. An MLA, who is not a Minister, should use the Private Members’ Bill to move what they think is appropriate to be passed as an Act.
As such the VPP is right to demand certain facilities. MLAs need to be mobile hence they need transport facilities, a driver and a monthly allowance for fuel for the vehicle. An MLA has to tour the length and breadth of the constituency and cannot be expected to go out of pocket. What the VPP pointed out about political appointees enjoying government largesse is also a fact. In the first place what have these political appointees, mostly failed MLAs who are paid from the public exchequer, delivered other than to serve their own interests? They are being compensated for losing the elections which is patently unfair. People must have rejected these politicians for a reason so why is the Government patronising them? It’s like a mockery of the peoples’ will. The VPP has maintained that as a political party it would teach people not to make personal demands and this is a much-needed political reform. Too many people milk their MLAs for personal needs. Such MLAs then have to misuse the MLA scheme to get back what they have given. No MLA will pay money to his/her constituents from his/her personal account or pocket. In fact this practice should stop because it is what deters many well-meaning individuals from contesting elections.