Wake up!
Posted in Blog
In a previous post “How are grants allocated to our city’s MPs, MLAs and Councilors spent?”, we had mentioned that we had filed a RTI requesting information on expenditure incurred by the MLAs, MPs and the Councilors for development work in all the wards in Ahmedabad City.
We have received information for Nikol ward. This is what we found:
- There was no expenditure incurred for any educational related purposes from 2006-2010 – for any educational programs, school, balwadis or vocational training, by any of the 6 MLA/MP/Councilors.
- None of the MLA/MP/Councilors, except MP Harinbhai Pathak spent any portion of their grants to improve existing or build new health facilities or propose health programs. Harinbhai Pathak spent close to Rs. 1.01 crores for 4 new rooms in the AMC TB Hospital.
- Close to 1/4th (27%) i.e. about Rs 56 lakhs of th
e total expenditure incurred (2.09 crores), was for physical improvements like stone paving, benches, chairs, dust bins, tatkis, water fountains, idols and office improvements. - Approximately 14% was spent for road improvements and linkages
- 7% on water related infrastructure – pipes, valves
- 4% on sewage and storm water related infrastructure.
- Year after year, grants are being utilised for benches in “different parts of Nikol ward”. Some of the details do not provide enough information about the precise location to verify whether they are present or check the condition of these benches.
- Dhanjibhai Sanghani incurred 64% i.e. around Rs 11 lakhs, of his total expenditure from 2006-2010 on paving, benches and his office improvements!
- Vanraj Singh Jhala incurred 61% i.e. around Rs. 20 lakhs, of his total expenditure from 2006-2010 on paving, benches and idols!
- Madhuben Patel incurred 56% i.e. around Rs 11.70 lakhs, of her total expenditure from 2006-2010 on paving and benches!
Is this development work?
Our attempt here is not to malign any of our representatives, but really question what or who their priorities are.
How can so much money be spent on beautification whereas structural problems of inadequate health, education, water and sewage infrastructure receive scarce attention and resources?
