CPIML Condemns Undemocratic Acquisition of MLA Funds by Bihar Chief Minister
CPIM Bihar State Secretary Kunal and legislative party leader Mahboob Alam issued a joint statement on 19 May condemning the extremely undemocratic way in which the Rs 2 crores each from the Area Development Funds for the financial year 2021-22 have been taken over by the Chief Minister without any consultation with MLAs. They said that the Chief Minister should at least have observed the minimum democratic process. It is legitimate to raise questions about the fund acquisition process because last year also the government had taken over Rs 50 lakhs from each MLA fund but till today no account has been given as to how the amount was spent. Questions are arising because of the lack of transparency.
CPIML MLAs have demanded from the Bihar government to spend at least 50% of this amount to improve health services in the concerned people's representative's constituency and the participation and suggestions of the MLAs/Councillors should be regarded as paramount in the whole fund allotment process.
They further said that our party MLAs have recommended the remaining Rs 1 crore for purchase of health equipment but the implementation by the administration is very slow. Moreover, the Phulwari MLA's recommendation for setting up an oxygen plant has been cancelled. If this is the government's attitude, the benefits of the MLAs' recommendations may not materialize during the current 2nd wave. Therefore the administration must shed its snail's pace and act promptly.
Secretary Kunal said that we have consistently been demanding that additional primary health centres should be kept functional but the Nitish government which took no proper measures in the health sector during this past one year took doctors from these hospitals and posted them in the higher hospitals. As a result the lower health system lies shattered. It is because of this lack of foresight that Covid has spread extensively today and entire villages are in its clutches.
After one month the government has issued orders that these doctors should be re-posted back to their places. This will strengthen the lower health system to an extent, but doctors and staff should be arranged immediately for dedicated hospitals.
CPIML Observed Hunger Strike to Demand Transparency in Use of MLA Funds
All the CPIML units in Bihar observed a day’s hunger strike on 21 May in protest of state government’s undemocratic and non-transparent decision to divert MLAs’ local area development fund without consent of legislative members and undermining the demand of MLAs that a fixed portion of this fund be spent on concerned MLA’s constituency for fighting the pandemic. Protests were held in all the districts outside houses and in open spaces and also in and in front of party offices.
All the 12 CPIML MLAs observed a one-day hunger strike on 21 May against the Chief Minister's extremely undemocratic decision to take over the Rs 2 crores each from the Area Development Funds for the financial year 2021-22 without consulting the MLAs. They demanded that the government should spend at least 50% of this amount to improve health services in the constituency of the concerned people's representative and that the participation and suggestions of the MLAs should be regarded as paramount in the entire fund allotment process.
Phulwari MLA Gopal Ravidas and Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh sat on hunger strike in the CPIML legislative party office at No. 13, Chhajjubagh.
MLA Sandeep Saurabh said that we have no objection to the government acquiring the Rs 2 crores, but our objection is that they did not consult us or take our suggestions and there is no transparency in the utilization of the funds. Last time also, the government acquired Rs 50 lakhs but till today we have not even been told if the amount was spent or not. Our demand is that our suggestions should be given priority in the dispensation of this fund and at least Rs 1 crore should be spent in the concerned constituency. All the CPIML MLAs have already recommended the remaining Rs 1 crore to be spent on medical equipment but the administration is moving at a snail's pace.
Gopal Ravidas said that he had recommended the remaining Rs 1 crore to be used for setting up an oxygen plant in Phulwari but the government says there is no provision for such a recommendation. What then does this government propose to do with the MLA funds it has acquired? These works should be done on a war footing now, but even in this hour of pandemic the BJP-JDU are stooping to low level politics. They do not want any MLA to take the initiative. They have taken over the funds but are not working to utilize them properly.
If this is the government's attitude, it is unlikely that proper utilization of these funds will be done during this 2nd Covid wave. Therefore the administration must shed its snail's pace and act promptly.
Similarly, other CPIML MLAs who sat on a one-day hunger strike included leader of CPIML legislative party Mahboob Alam at Barsoi, Arun Singh at Karakat, Mahanand Singh at Arwal, Manoj Manzil at Agiaon, Sudama Prasad at Tarari, Satyadev Ram at Darauli, Amarjeet Kushwaha at Mairwa, Virendra Prasad Gupta at Sikta, Rambali Singh Yadav at Jehanabad, and Ajit Kushwaha at Dumraon.
