Civil Society Intiative for Accountable Development
Some modest proposals
CM Koyes Sami
In previous elections, we have seen that government servants participate in the national elections soon after retirement. With the election in their mind they unduly exercise power to favour their respective constituency and allocate funds for the development of that constituency. This is a misuse of government funds for personal benefits. I think that there should be a bar of at least three years on their participation in the national elections after retirement from government service. This same principle should also apply in case of a government employee who resigns from service or who is dismissed/terminated from government service. Sitting members of parliament need to declare their assets at the time of their assuming the office and also when they relinquish office. Any unexplained increase in the assets and accrual of assets beyond known means of earning should render them liable for disqualification from being a member of parliament. It is also common knowledge that MPs leave behind huge amounts of outstanding telephone/utility bills. There should also be a provision to restrict such persons from participating in elections unless they settle these amounts. A poor country like ours cannot afford the luxury of having a large parliament of 330 members. There should be a parliament of maximum 100 members comprising of 1 or 2 members from each 64 districts depending on the population in the respective district (and another 20 female members can be elected on the basis of direct election by women). Functions of a member of parliament should be restricted to law-making only and should not have any role in the administrative decision-making and development activities. For an MP to be able to contribute to law-making process there should be a minimum level of education to qualify him to participate in the elections. The facilities allowed to the MPs at the cost of taxpayer money should also be curtailed to a reasonable level. Unnecessary concessions at the cot of a national exchequer like import of duty free case should not be allowed. While submitting this, I take the privilege of sharing another view with you. People were happy to see the formation of an independent anti-corruption commission, but we were disappointed to see poor performance of the commission. ACC should make them functional and look into the activities of the members of the government at high levels. If ACC finds irregularities committed at that level should bring them to task.
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