Jammu: Right from the beginning of the Corona pandemic in India, people across the nation have started giving donations to fight deadly Corona virus and subsequently distribution of Ration etc. had also stated but it is being observed that most of the political leaders and party workers etc while distributing 5kg, 6kg Ration among people are resorting to extensive photography and use of media while distributing this ration and are concentrating more on their own publicity and their party, but the hapless people don’t know as to from where this money has come. This was stated by Lok Adhikaar Chairman J&K Dr. Amar Chand Bhagat today in a statement given to media at Jammu.
Reportedly during the last two months itself donations worth more than rupees one lakh crore have been received by the central government and continuously thereafter donations are pouring in. The central government is deliberately not disclosing the amounts so collected as to what is the expenditure till date and what is up to date status in respect of Corona donations.
Giving further details Dr. Bhagat said that so many celebrities, reputed public figures have donated on this account in crores and there are a lot of people who have donated in lakhs and donations below this level have been given by crores of people, but the BJP led central government kept all such donations hidden and never made them public. Whereas on the other hand, had the central government showed transparency and judicious utilization, it would not have been impossible for the government to manage and establish at least 100 ventilators for a state level hospital, 50 ventilators for a Dist. Level hospital, and at least 05 ventilators for a Sub-District level hospital besides Corona related medicines and PPE Kits for testing Corona virus infection. As per the opinion of certain health experts the above arrangements would cost around 800 crores. It is also reportedly learnt that ex-MLAs have been given funds by the centre to the tune of rupees fifty lacs or so to each and other legislators in crores and no doubt from this amount these politicians are distributing ration etc among people as per their wishes, yet they are more concentrating more on their personal publicity and of their party to which they belong.
It would have been in the fitness of things had there been judicious use of such funds, centre would have disclosed the total income, expenditure, and latest balance on this account, but unfortunately this is not happening with the result there are more chances of corruption. It is significant to make it clear that all these funds being spent in different ways, actually is public money, be it in the form of various taxes imposed on public, be it Corona virus donations etc.
Whereas on the other hand the central government has announced not to pay DA arrears to the employees and its pensioners till June 2021 which is totally unjustified as there is a steep price rise of the commodities and due to this Corona pandemic the prices are further touching sky. Unfortunately the perks of the MLAs, MPs, MLCs and Ministers have not been reduced or stopped or not even being talked about. The Ministers, MPs and MLAs and ex-legislators are receiving huge perks and pension besides so many other facilities, which in fact is at the cost of public money.
Now recently the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced 20 lakh crore COVID-19 stimulus package for Indian economy which is nothing but an eye wash as there is absence of transparent and judicious system of distribution and utilization. Huge chunk of population in the J&K region as well as in the country comprises of un-organized and un-registered persons, be those poor laborers, poor working women, poor working children, orphans, destitute, Drivers, Cleaners, un-employed youth, landless and houseless workers and many others. This announcement of 20 lakh crore will also meet the same fate as in the past as there is no proper, transparent and judicious system in place.
All the workers, laborers, daily rated workers, skilled and un-skilled workers have been rendered workless. It has become very difficult to meet two ends meals for a huge chunk of population. Lok Adhikaar Mission makes an earnest appeal before central government and also before the JK-UT administration to take cognizance of the entire scenario and instead of handing over funds worth lakhs and crores of rupees to legislators, politicians and party workers, better purchase all the essential items / commodities and distribute among public through government departments under very strict measures which will restrain them from mis-utilising it and will also debar them from indulging in corruption to some extent.
