Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta welcomes proposal for Ombudsman for local bodies

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the 13th Finance Commission conceding the Lok Satta proposal for the constitution of an Ombudsman to go into complaints of irregularities at the local government level, and allocating some funds directly to the third tier of government.

Talking to the media, party spokespersons Katari Srinivasa Rao, Bhisetty Babji and V.Vijayender Reddy said that as per the latest Finance Commission recommendations, Andhra Pradesh would get Rs.1,00,616 crore as its share in Central taxes and Rs.13,802 crore by way of grants in aid, in addition to funds under Centrally-sponsored schemes during the next five years. The devolution of funds from the Government of India per year would work out to nearly Rs.25000 crore a year.

The Lok Satta leaders underlined that the State Government, which received huge funds from the Government of India, should allocate a portion of its revenue to zilla parishads, municipalities, and other local bodies, which constitute the third tier of government. A per capita grant of Rs.1000 to every local body in the State would not cost more than Rs.8000 crore a year, constituting a mere 7 percent of the State’s 113,000-crore budget.

The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution envisaged devolution of resources and responsibilities on local bodies. Instead of adhering to the letter and spirit of the amendments, successive State Governments in Andhra Pradesh have been preserving and promoting centralization of power, and emasculating local governments.

Against the backdrop of the State receiving munificent assistance from the Government of India, the State Government should not trot out any more excuses for denying local bodies a legitimate share in its revenue.

The Lok Satta spokespersons said the Finance Commission suggestion that the States introduce a separate budge for local bodies would be meaningful only if they part with funds to local bodies.

Friday, March 5, 2010 - 16:10

Dr. JP suggests changes in women’s Reservations Bill

Welcoming the UPA Government move to introduce a Bill in Parliament to provide for reservations to women in legislative bodies, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today suggested that the flaws in the Bill be removed if it were to be meaningful.

Talking to the media, Dr. JP pointed out that the Bill proposes reservation of one-third seats for women and the rotation of such reserved seats once in every general election. As a result, two-thirds of incumbents will be forcibly unseated in every general election. When male incumbents are forced out, they field their womenfolk as proxies and hinder development of natural leadership.

"Such compulsory unseating violates the very principle of democratic representation and jeopardizes the possibility of any legislator choosing a constituency and nursing it. When legislators do not have the incentive to seek re-election from the same constituency, politics will become more predatory and unaccountable. The Bill in its present form is silent about women's representation in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils. In addition, the Bill warrants a constitutional amendment."

Studying all these, the Lok Satta had as early as 1998 presented an alternative for consideration by all political parties. It calls for an amendment to the Representation of the People Act making it mandatory for every recognized political party to field women candidates in one-third of constituencies. To prevent a party from nominating women candidates only in States or constituencies where the party's chances of winning are weak, the Bill proposes that each party should consider the State as a unit for fielding women candidates in elections to the Lok Sabha. In other words, a party has to field one-third of women candidates in every State. A party's failure to field the requisite number of women entails a penalty. For the shortfall of every woman candidate, the party cannot field male candidates in two constituencies.

The Lok Satta Bill proposes that for reservation of seats for women in a State Assembly, the unit shall be a cluster of three contiguous Lok Sabha constituencies. The Election Commission had endorsed the Lok Satta Bill, Dr. JP said.

Dr, JP said that the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act should be amended to provide for reservation of one-third of seats to women in the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils.

Dr. JP pointed out that political parties denied party ticket to women claiming their chances of winning an election were remote. Results in election after election have demonstrated that voters have no prejudice against women.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 17:02

Charges against Dr. JP motivated: Lok Satta

The Lok Satta Party today took strong exception to certain political sections making slanderous allegations against Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, its President, to divert people’s attention from their bankrupt thinking.

Talking to the media, party spokesmen Katari Srinivasa Rao and V. Laxman Balaji said that as a responsible politician and people’s representative, Dr. JP has been striving to harmonize conflicting interests on the Telangana issue in accordance with the Constitution. Unable to carry on a debate based on facts and logic, his detractors questioned his integrity.

The Lok Satta leaders recalled that when a controversy erupted over Hyderabad being a ‘free zone’ for purposes of police recruitment and postings, Dr. JP told an all-party meeting that a solution lay in getting Clause 14 (f) of the Presidential order deleted and not in approaching the Supreme Court.

The Lok Satta leaders pointed out that TRS President K. Chandrasekhara Rao acknowledged that it was only Dr. JP who spoke the truth while all others backed the Government decision to approach the Supreme Court.

Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao and Mr. Laxman Balaji reiterated the Lok Satta’s consistent stand that the formation of a Telangana State would neither be a catastrophe nor a panacea. Only people’s empowerment through genuine decentralization of power and provision of quality education and health care, livelihood skills and employment opportunities would serve people in all regions of the State.

They said that although democracy and the Constitution provided for resolution of all problems in a peaceful manner, some political parties are fueling hatred among people of different regions for partisan political ends. They hoped that a settlement acceptable to all regions of the State would be hammered out through a realistic debate and dialogue.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 16:21

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