Though assembly elections in this state are a year away, the ruling coalition has opened its purse strings to give freebies to its people and MLAs. Will this help it score a hat-trick?
By Vipin Pubby in Chandigarh
With high-stake elections in Punjab less than a year away, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is now focused on attempting a hat-trick even though it is an uphill task for them.
The ruling coalition partners are making all-out efforts to please and appease different segments of society in a last-ditch effort to shore up support. It is in this context that the SAD with the help of the BJP at the center recently pushed through a bill to strengthen its Panthic credentials by making Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) an exclusive organization for Amritdhari or baptized Sikhs. It has also been doling out funds to villages through its Sangat Darshan programs and announcing substantial compensation for each farmer suicide due to indebtedness. It has set up a new pay commission to please government employees who form a substantial vote bank and has announced schemes for students and other sections of society.
GIFT TO MLAS
And even as the state’s finances remain in the doldrums, it has sought to give a parting gift to a substantial number of ruling coalition MLAs. In its latest move, the Parkash Singh Badal government appointed seven new Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs), taking the total number of such appointees to an all-time high of 25. This effectively translates into political largesse to nearly two-thirds of all ruling coalition members. The coalition partners have a total strength of 72 legislators out of a total of 117 in the assembly. Besides the 25 CPSs, there are 18 ministers and a speaker and a deputy speaker, taking the tally of those favorably “adjusted” at 45.
The concept of appointing CPS was brought about to circumvent the amendments to the Representation of People Act which restricts appointment of ministers to 15 percent of the strength of state assemblies. Punjab has exhausted its entire quota of 18 ministers and the only other way to “adjust” more is to appoint CPSs for which there is no quota.
CPS enjoy a status equivalent to that of ministers but they are not authorized to go through files or to take any decisions. They get a salary and other allowances of about Rs 1 lakh a month, a luxury chauffeur-driven car and a police escort vehicle. In case they wish to use their own private vehicle, they are entitled to a reimbursement of `18 per kilometer with no upper limit and an additional allowance of Rs 10,000 for salary and maintenance of the vehicle. Plus, they are entitled to an allowance of Rs 1,500 per day while travelling.
Besides a government house, they get free water and electricity and staff, which includes a private secretary or a steno, an assistant, clerk and a servant. They can also employ two other employees such as a telephone operator and a cook. That’s not all. In case they want to stay in their private residence, they are entitled to a House Rent Allowance of `50,000. They also get Leave Travel Allowance up to Rs 3 lakh per year. All this is in addition to their usual allowances and perks as MLAs. And as if that is not enough, they are not supposed to pay any income tax; the state government pays it on their behalf.
HIKES GALORE
The state government also enhanced the pay and allowances of the chief minister, the deputy chief minister, speaker, deputy speaker and MLAs last year. As per the decision, the salary of the speaker and deputy speaker was enhanced from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. Likewise, the salary of the CM was hiked from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh and that of ministers from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. Similarly, the salary/pension of MLAs/ex-MLAs had been revised from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000. Certain allowances and perks admissible to all were also enhanced.
Ironically, the announcement for appointment of an unprecedented number of CPSs came on a day when the parliament was informed that Punjab came next only to Maharashtra for recording the highest number of farmer suicides. The report tabled in parliament confirmed the death of 56 farmers in Punjab due to indebtedness and successive crop failures.
PENNY-WISE, POUND-FOOLISH
What is also appalling is the fact that the government has been extravagant when it comes to pleasing political leaders and has lavishly spent on functions and providing security to so-called VVIPs. This, when the state’s financial situation has gone from bad to worse. Such is the extent of financial mess that recently the banks declined to advance loans to it for purchasing wheat. It was done only after central intervention.
The state government, as is now well-known, had been mortgaging public properties like shelter homes and circuit houses to pay salaries to its employees. Pension and other such payments to widows, handicapped and weaker sections of society have not been paid for months together. At least 25 employees unions are protesting the government’s failure to regularize their services.
The state’s per capita income has declined from number two position in the country to among the last 10. It now stands at Rs 92,000 only a little more than nation’s average at Rs 74,000. The state of industry in Punjab is also in dire straits with a large number of units shutting down or moving to other states. As per official reports, 6,550 units were declared sick till 2015.
However, these figures mean little to the government when it comes to the welfare of politicians and their favorites. The government has a lot of explaining to do to voters before the ensuing polls.