Aizawl, Sep 2 : The fortunes of Mizoram MLAs have grown by 790.48 per cent, compared to 289 per cent growth of members of Parliament s wealth since 2008 state Assembly elections.
According to a paper presented by Dr. Lalthakima, assistant professor of Pachhunga University College, at a seminar on corruption here today, the assets of re-contesting MLAs in the 2008 state Assembly elections grew by 790 per cent over the intervening five years.
Quoting an analysis of affidavits done by the Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch, the paper highlighted that the the percentage rise in assets of members of Parliament (MPs) who re-contested the 2009 elections was 289 per cent while that of re-contesting MLAs in all the states in average was less than 200 per cent.
According to the seminar paper, a Mizoram MLA who topped the rich list got richer by 13022.08 per cent during the five years, from 2003 to 2009. According to his declaration of assets before 2003 elections, this particular MLA had Rs 50,000 which skyrocketed to Rs 65,61,038 when he re-contested the 2008 elections.
A legislator, who experienced the lowest economic growth among the Mizoram legislators, had his wealth grown by 5.84 per cent during the five years.
The assistant professor, who disclosed this analysis on his paper Hlemhletna leh Mizoram politicians (Corruption and Mizoram politicians), said his analysis was based on a booklet on MLA contestants of the 2008 elections, prepared by anti-corruption organization PRISM (People’s Right to Information Development Implementing Society of Mizoram).
The seminar on Corruption and Mizo Christians , organised by Academy of Integrated Christian Studies (AICS) of Baptist Church of Mizoram, discussed papers presented by assistant professors of colleges, senior civil judges, retired bureaucrats and social activists on different topics in corruption.
Lalhmingliana Saiawi, a retired IAS officer, who presented the paper, accused the Mizoram government of having double standards when it comes to corruption cases investigated by the CBI.
This attitude, he said, in the paper, was very clear from the fact that the Mizoram government s challenging Gauhati High Court s order for a CBI probe into alleged misappropriation of PMGSY fund in Mizoram.
While the state government has no objection to the CBI probe into compensation scam in Tuirial hydel project, it has challenged the High Court s order for a CBI probe in the Supreme Court for God-knows-why.
Civic organisation SOSA (society for social action) had filed PILs in Gauhati High Court against the alleged misuse of public money in the two projects, he informed the seminar. Unlike other states where he had served as bureaucrats, Mr Lalhmingliana also felt that the Mizoram government has no real intention to dig out missing public money.
Dr J V Nunchunga, assistant professor of J Thankima College, who presented a paper on corruption and Mizoram economy , underlined that while corruption affects the entire society, the poorer section are the worst-hit.
One of the commonest corruptions in Mizoram, according to J V Nunchunga is government doctors running private clinics despite enjoying non-practice allowance, which is 25 per cent of their monthly salaries.
Moreover, the NPA which is meant for only medical doctors is also being extended to veterinary doctors in Mizoram. Mr Nunchunga also expressed concern over too many government holidays, including Saturdays, in Mizoram, highlighting that the state government losses about Rs 539.92 lakh in each holiday.
He also stated that ruined or delayed projects in Mizoram have also badly affected the state s economy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment