TUR demands govt to provide detailed information on COVID-19 expenditures

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 7, 2020

The Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has demanded the state government to put in public domain the detailed breakdown of the expenditures amounting to Rs 399 crore spent for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, TUR leader Angela Rangad said the breakup of the expenditure released by the government raises questions about the funds spent.

Alleging that the numbers hide more than they reveal, Rangad said for instance, if taking the government’s figure that Rs 51 crore was spent for providing assistance to labourers, daily wage earners, BPL families, then approximately 2,42, 857 persons got a cash support of Rs 2100 each in their bank account.

She however said TUR in a survey of unorganized sector workers in Shillong found that very few labourers, daily wage earners, BPL Families have got this cash support adding even if some have got this support, it has been mostly single installment of Rs 700.

“We demand that under the Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, the government immediately put in the details of beneficiaries and the details of cash support in the public domain,” Rangad said.

She said similarly, the statements made by Dy Chief Minister about the cost of food being provided to people in Corona Care Centres is exorbitantly high and that the same seems to be the case for testing kits etc.

Expressing fear that the pandemic is being used by some to indulge in unaccountable financial actions, she however this crisis cannot be used for corruption and private enrichment.

Meanwhile, Rangad said the state government should proactively within a week under section 4 of RTI Act as well as the Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act put in public domain all information related to the various expenditures.

The information sought also related to personnel hired or deputed in Corona duties with their emoluments, contracts and tender documents of all the procurements, medical and otherwise, carried out for corona crisis, list of all the vendors and suppliers along with the payment details to them, list of all the beneficiaries of stranded citizen funds and for cash assistance to labourers, daily wage earners, BPL Families and others.

“We hope that your government shall commit itself to a more transparent, corruption free and accountable governance. Pandemic is an opportunity to do so,” Rangad said.

Meanwhile, the TUR also appealed to the Meghalaya Lokayukta to be proactive during this period so that this pandemic is not misused to enrich the few.