Wednesday 28 November 2012

No Tender Requirement for upto '3 Lakh Public Work' under MLA-Fund


Written by Anil Singh
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No Tender Requirement for upto '3 Lakh Public Work' under MLA-Fund

In an effort to free Uttarakhand MLAs carry out more Public work from there MLA Fund (Vidhayak Nidhi or MLA-LAD or MLA- Local Area Development Fund), the Uttarakhand Government has decided to end the requirement of a Tender for any public work upto Rs 3 Lakh  from there MLA Fund. Thus, from now onwards, an MLA can grant public work of upto Rupees 3 Lakh to any contractor or person, on his/her discretion (means 'vivek').

The decision may look benevolent to many; but public money shouldn't be spent on individual's discretion. Instead, public money, even a single paisa of it, should go through strict scrutiny.  To make things effective, the government can always make Tender or scrutiny process cost effective and efficient.

One more drawback of this 'Hike in Tender Requirement limit', is :

The more money will be spent without discretion. Since, "A Paisa can be Spent Only once", poor choices, like giving money for Temple or Mosque construction, OR for private roads etc. will be waste of public money. That part, there's always a possibility of power groups and individuals close to the MLA, siphoning off this money.

Although, not many people will agree with me, but I have always believed that MP and MLA Funds should be used for research work. For instance, if an MLA wants better schools in his/her constituency, instead of giving money to some school; the MLA should hire researchers to research how education can be improved in the constituency and how money for it can be procured from the Government or Private sector. In short, the money should be put to make well researched projects.
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