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| Lawmakers flout CDF guidelines, divert funds to woo voters | | | Raj Sandeep
Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 14: Legislators considered as law makers for smooth governance with riders on the Government agencies to abide by CDF norms while giving nod to their proposal, are themselves violating the guidelines laid down for judicious use of Constituency Development Funds for common benefit.
The media reports appearing in a section of newspapers reveal the callousness on the part of members of Legislative Assembly and council to drain funds, earmarked for them to develop their constituencies , for accommodating their sympathizers in their areas by offering Rs. 15000 to each individual for upgradation of residential houses although the guidelines in this context are categorically clear which enjoin upon both the administration and the legislators to spend funds for achieving common objective and not individual and accordingly the repair and renovation of houses does not fall within the ambit of guidelines of CDF to be followed by legislators and the district administration.
The experts in the line say that cursory glimpses of CDF guidelines enshrine the components of responsiveness, transparency, administration and management, accountability, oversight, monitoring and evaluation. It provides the principles for operation of Constituency Development Fund that are consistent with international norms and values about legislative performance and socio-economic development highlighting the importance of transparent project selection and implementation in a manner which enables the citizens to work together for the development of constituency, demand accountability and maintain regular oversight. CDF facilitates legitimate connection between legislators and their constituencies providing opportunity to the citizens to provide local inputs and their participative management to promote better targeting of projects and achievement as per needs of constituency. They point out that under the provision of CDF guidelines, there is no scope for allowing misuse of funds by lawmakers being used for providing financial assistance to renovate the houses individually. This cannot be allowed for disbursement as cash-for-vote than assistance for renovation of houses which is very difficult rather impossible to verify whether such an amount has been used for renovation or not, which is a matter of probe to find out the chicks and plug them for future guidance of all concerned.
While talking to Early Times correspondent, a senior bureaucrat having served in various capacities informed that the guidelines for incurring CD funds are very clear as these funds are to be used for achieving common purpose of slum development and nor individual benefits, further expressing his surprise to learn from newspapers , he said that there is no provision for diverting CD funds towards repair and renovation of houses or upgradation whatsoever and such a proposal emanating from any legislator should have been outrightly rejected by the concerned DDC who is the custodian of these funds and is duty bound to ensure judicious use of public money for common benefits of the constituency and not otherwise , further said, adding that during his tenure as District Development Commissioner in a couple of Districts in the state he forthwith rejected such ill prepared proposals of legislators accruing financial benefits to individuals and gave them the justification for such a rejection and guided them in consonance with the spirit of CDF guidelines as any deviation on this front amounts to sheer misuse and plundering of public money for which the administrative heads of the districts should have resisted without any let up or hindrance and as such they owe an explanation about the compelling circumstances which led to misuse of CD funds reportedly by the legislators, he said, adding that transparent mechanism needs to be put in place to strictly stop the tendency of those who are responsible and accountable to utilize the money for achieving common objective and not for individual benefit for gaining political mileage to strengthen their vote bank for election purposes. |
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