Shiban Khaibri
The reason why the main architect of the UPA’s most ambitious MNREGA scheme, Jean Dreze , an Economist , is feeling not happy with the state of affairs of the scheme, is the lack of accountability in this very “fragile ” programme which was primarily touted as a vote catching means. He has gone ahead in his recommendations to this extent to suggest scrapping it all together. He has been a member of the National Advisory Council headed by Smt. Sonia Gandhi and has expressed fears that “it will be even more difficult up from here” if the government dithered in not taking an appropriate action in the matter and that also immediately. It is not that the government is unaware of what Dreze has pointed out and again it is not that the government is not in know of the levels of corruption and irregularities in not only MNREGA but even in other flagship programme(s), yet it has decided to allow such schemes to continue, notwithstanding these proving to be a drain on the scarce resources of the country.
Has it become a fate accompli that now proper percentages are worked out regarding the implementations of such “poverty alleviation and social welfare schemes” and that phenomenon has been lent legitimacy? If the views of the Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram are to be reckoned, the answer then is “YES”. He holds the considered opinion that if as much as 30% of the funds allotted are wasted (read squandered) in the process but still 70% reaches the Aam Aadmi. The government seems happy with that and has practically no remedial measures in its expected tighter governance. The Finance Minister minces no words when he unequivocally agrees that such schemes under its Flagship are plagued with corruption and mismanagement while talking with one of the leading news papers of the country a few days after presenting the union Budget 2012-13 in the Parliament. He says it is the policy and the commitment of the Congress party to continue these schemes to be operational. It would sound as “non Congress like approach ” to slice down the allocation of funds . He compares these schemes with a long pipe line which has been laid to reach a densely populated area to provide potable water and en-route some water gets “leaked” here and there, but , says the Finance Minister, “the supply cannot be stopped”. At least 70% of the money reaches the public.” The leakages on the other hand can be plugged and 100 % supply can take place and that can lead to speedy economic development if the will of the government is decisive. The question as to who is responsible for damaging the pipeline and causing leakages, the Honb’le Minister had no explanation to offer. Is therefore low accountability and lack of fear of facing action, all in respect of operational procedures responsible for the muck and mess and if so, why is the government not adopting stricter remedial measures, is beyond one’s comprehension, especially when the money allotted to such flagship schemes comes from the citizens’ pockets and not from any political party or any dispensation in power.
Has this MNREGA otherwise been able to generate productive assets in rural areas? Whatever has been built so far under this 100 days rural employment programme has been a very poor temporary infrastructure by using just shovels and no machinery or implements by the rural labour. Pits, canals and ponds only are built (read dug) which get completely washed off in monsoon rains. The same process is repeated with the same ends derived. Neither any skill is imparted to this labour nor any allied farming activities encouraged to make the end use of the massive money spent turn worthwhile nor is the cycle of poverty thus getting broken. Besides, it is one of the reasons of ballooning our fiscal deficit annually, this year it was 5.2% which is hoped to be less than 5% next year, other things remaining the same. This year, the Finance Minister has proposed to make an additional allotment of Rs. 33000 crores to this scheme. This scheme, on the contrary, has resulted in, on numerous occasions in many states, a shortage of farm labour forcing the government to advise steps for its suspension in such states during peak farming periods. Economic schemes funded by the peoples’ money are not to be treated as vote getting devices so as not to administer sincere and foolproof implementation.
At times, money distributed under schemes of these types are far less in quantum than the extravaganza of what is spent on publicity as a mode to sustain and recharge vote Bank prospects. As per reports, it is a thing to be believed that just for distributing an amount of Rs8.5 crores as unemployment cheques , a whooping amount of Rs.12 crores were spent on functions organized by UP government recently on the publicity of the events just within a period of eight months . The scheme, again a vote catcher one to woo young voters by the Samajwadi Party, has the target to reach nearly 10 lakh youth in the state. Each unemployed youth is entitled to receive Rs.1000 per month till he gets a job. This is in addition to” Laptoping ” the youth as a reward for having chosen the party in the state elections or an incentive for 2014 general elections. We all know the fate of the NRHM , a centrally sponsored scheme in the state of Uttar Pradesh which initially is meant to improve the health of the rural poor but while implementing it, a massive amount of Rs.1000 crores was siphoned off in the state causing a huge scam .
As regards high importance oriented cash transfer scheme, another massive flag ship of the present dispensation, it is believed to be messed up in humps. Ostensibly, the intentions of the government are genuine but the implementation is not only in hiccups but covering only fuel, pension and scholarship payments. More attention rather is given towards making it appear as a boon granted by the main ruling party and expecting to do a miracle like MNREGA in 2014 general elections. Through massive publicity it is made known that each BPL family shall get “benefited” annually to the extent of Rs.40, 000 in cash. No doubt, the scheme can be a game changer provided subsidies on food fertilizers and fuel are paid through Bank accounts and in time without the element of 30 % getting “leaked” but still kept continued in deference to the “Party culture.”
Taking the case of Farm loan waiver scheme of Rs.52000 crore (under the Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme 2008) , in the light of the CAG report, huge irregularities are reported to have taken place , account tampering and hundreds of thousands eligible farmers not getting the intended benefit, are reported in which context,the Prime Minister has “assured”, ” We will take stringent action against defaulters”. What a travesty that in the land of farmers, even the farmers are not spared and as many opposition party members felt in the Parliament that had the scheme been implemented properly, many farmers could have been saved from committing suicide.
Is it because of these maladies in the system appearing to be incurable that for the May 2014 elections, PM candidate of the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi has expressed his no inclination to be the Prime Minister, ” as it is not my priority”. Instead, he made it known that his priority was to democratize the Congress and decentralize the decision making process. For this, he intends even not to get married as family matters, children etc; would set in a status quo position and deprive him of making his mission a success. Is he going to follow what his mother did in 2004- 5 by seeing either Ms. Meera Kumar, the Honb’le speaker of the present Lok Sabha or P. Chidambaram the Finance Minister occupying the coveted chair? That remains to be seen in the background of the Modi’nomics and his growth model involving the vast spectrum of the youth, the vibrant youth of the country, getting wider acceptability and credibility across the country , even beyond the borders.
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