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BOLD MOVE
(Editorial from The Telegraph)
Everyone loves to talk about corruption in Indian public life but few would do anything to fight it. Politicians cry foul over it when they are in the opposition but thrive on it while in power. Even those who genuinely want a corruption-free society find their goal almost unattainable.

Given the sweep and the depth of corruption in India, Nitish Kumar’s plan to fight it deserves to be commended. The Bihar chief minister’s move to abolish the quota of development funds allotted to the members of the state assembly is remarkable on two counts. First, it is proposed in a state which has long become a byword for the worst kinds of misrule and corruption. When the abolition of the quota comes into effect, Bihar will be the first state in the country to do such a thing. Second, the abolition could force political parties, their leaders and the people to take a fresh look at professional politics. Funds allotted directly to elected representatives are among the major sources of corruption not just in Bihar but all over the country. Governments and politicians know this but they have a vested interest in not only retaining the quotas but also periodically increasing the sums available under these.

A more serious economic argument against these quotas is that they delay or even derail development schemes. Most of these funds are meant for the development of basic facilities such as roads, water supply or minor irrigation. In practice, these funds become the elected representatives’ major source for distributing patronage to contractors and party loyalists. As such, they create a network of corruption from which the people’s representatives benefit infinitely more than the people themselves. Moreover, reports of different committees of Parliament and the state assemblies routinely show that the funds sometimes lie unused because of the local leaders’ failure to draw up viable plans. Since the funds are theoretically allotted to the elected representatives, the administration has little choice but to abide by their wishes. Yet, such quotas were introduced in order to usher in a democratic process in local area development. The complaints about the misuse of these quotas are so widespread that their abolition seems the only way to stop the charade. Mr Kumar has taken a bold and necessary step. It is time for other governments to follow his example and end the quota raj.

Fund scrapping an eyewash: YC leader
TNN, Dec 13, 2010, 11.48pm IST
(This newsitem is from the Bihar Times)

PATNA: Bihar Pradesh Youth Congress chief Lallan Kumar on Monday termed the decision of Nitish government to abolish the Local Area Development (LAD) fund of legislators as an eyewash.

Talking to newspersons, he demanded Nitish Kumar to disclose the source of his party's funds spent during the poll campaign on helicopters, five-star hotels and campaign vehicles during assembly elections.

The Youth Congress leader wanted to know why did the CM identify only MLAs as corrupt, and sarcastically said that if Nitish wanted to become an Iron Man (Lauh Purush) he should immediately implement land reforms and check corruption in the implementation of various government schemes like Indira Awaas Yojana, mid-day meal scheme, Antyodaya Yojana, Annapurna Yojana, aanganwadis, hospitals, MNREGA, uniforms distribution, Balika Cycle Yojana etc, being implemented by panchayati raj institutions.

He demanded withdrawal of the power of mukhiyas, block pramukhs and other elected panchayati raj representatives to issue cheques for implementation of these schemes. They should be asked to only monitor these schemes.

The leader also said that committees consisting of farmers, intellectuals, advocates, doctors, engineers, retired judges, students, women, youth and workers should be constituted to monitor all developmental works. Members of these committees should not be allowed to contest elections.

The first piece is an Editorial from the Telegraph.
It is obvious, it has welcomed Nitish Kumar's effort in rooting out corruption.

The second in a news item from the Bihar Times.
A Congress Youth Congress Leader, he must be an MLA, Lallan Kumar has criticized the step and tried to muddle the issues by asking why he was Nitish was not taking action on other fronts. Nitish can take one step at a time.
This is typical of the attitude of the Congress party.
Ever since independence, they have allowed it to flourish to become industry with topmost turnover in India. They give us such corrupt persons as Lalu Yadav, Shibu Soren, Suresh Kalamadi, A Raja, C K Jaffer Sharief, Sukh Ram and when a person wants to clear a state of corruption, the congress cries hoarse.
Manmohan Singh himself may be honest but he has allowed corruption to flourish in leaps and bounds under the UPA
By the way do any of you remember why and how these special funds for MLAs and MPs were started. It is called MPLAD (M P Local Area Development funds)
There is a story behind it.
During Harshad Mehta's days, Narsimha Rao was accused of taking a bribe of 1.0 crore from Harshad Mehta to go easy on him after the scam.
Life was becoming difficult for Mr Rao.
So to keep the MPs happy and release their pressure, he initiated a law by which each MP would get 1.0 crore to spend as he wished in his constituency under certain guidelines.
This amount was later increased to Rs 2.0 crores and the MPs are trying to get it increased to 5.0 crores