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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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Clipping the wings of privilege Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake It appears that members of parliament have even gone beyond the original decision to provide meals at the parliament restaurant at the market price for the meals. If one considers the restaurants, "buth kadeys" and other eateries where the average members of the public have their breakfast or lunch, the price the MPs now have to pay is very much higher. No one pays Rs. 60 for breakfast, unless two or three special dishes are ordered. The same goes for lunch. The price of the average "buth packet" can vary from Rs. 45 to Rs 60, depending on the extras one chooses in the standard range available. Judging from this it seems grossly unfair to charge an MP Rs.60 for breakfast and Rs.150 for lunch. This is making them share too much of the burden of the cost of living with the people they represent. However, it is best if the House Committee that agreed on these prices makes a public statement of the menu that is served for breakfast and lunch, just for the people to know what their elected or national list MPs have for breakfast and lunch. Those were my views that I shared with my friends of the Janahitha Kendra, at our last weekly discussion on the "Ratey Thathvaya". "Don't you think this will cause problems in having a regular quorum present to carry out the business of parliament, especially in the afternoon", asked Sabha Ganapoorana. "Why do you think so," I asked. "With the new price of breakfast and lunch served at parliament, won't MPs prefer to have these meals at their homes or special quarters. They may be able to come for the morning session after a breakfast at home, but many will want to rush home for their lunch too, for purely economic reasons. Which means they may not return in time for the next session, or not return at all that day, in case they feel like a siesta at home," he said. "Interesting problem," said Jyothi Sekasahitha. "But what if they pass a resolution in the House to increase the daily sitting allowances paid to them, to cover up this increased cost. It might even help them profit from this price increase." "I don't think they will do any such thing. After all they are the representatives of the people, and having taken this bold step involving their own meals, it is hardly likely they would pass that buck too back on to the people," I said. "It is not many who have such laudable impressions of our elected and other representatives," said Vishva Avishvaasa. "There are many more things to be done if they are to prove themselves as genuine representatives of the people." "What else should they do", I asked. "Why go home or to any other place for lunch? Why can't they bring a "buth packet" to parliament like so many thousands of office and factory workers? After all they won't have to travel with it in a crowded bus, because they have their own luxury, duty free vehicles, bought, run and maintained from the public purse," said Jyothi Sekasahitha. "Now that the subject of pensions, including double pensions and parliamentary pensions is in the air, why don't they give up the privilege of a pension, unless it is proved they were impoverished and are living in penury for having worked on behalf of the people when in parliament?" asked Sabha Ganapoorana. "Very important point. This is where the declaration of assets and liabilities of MPs and their closest of kin come into play. No MP should be entitled to a pension without having served at least ten consecutive years in parliament, and that too not unless the declaration of assets and liabilities shows a marked decline in assets during that period," said Vishva Avishvaasa. "Now that the government has slapped a major duty hike on gas guzzling, luxury vehicles, why don't the MPs of the government set an example by travelling in smaller vehicles, even if they are received duty free or at some concessions from government?" asked Jyothi Sekasahitha. Travelling in smaller and lighter vehicles will make MPs get a real feel of the road, with all those craters that are a hazard even on main roads. It might just make them allocate more from their decentralised budgets for road improvement," he added. "Well, why not stop the employment of one's own immediate family members in the offices of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and even MPs, as private secretaries or co-ordinating officers?" I asked. "This will bring the MPs closer to the people, and also help spread out the salaries paid to these persons beyond the confines of the MPs' or Ministers' families, and go out to the people," I said. This will certainly help in MPs and Ministers being more people friendly," I added, having observed the "relative" power of these persons in giving appointments to meet MPs or Government Ministers. "We've discussed many things that MPs could do to be seen as real representatives of the people, in addition to having their parliament restaurant meals at some inflated market prices. But do you think there is any hope in hell that any of these things will be done," asked Vishva Avishvaasa. "Well if there is strong public demand, won't they be compelled to give ear to it and mend their ways?" I asked. "You must not take it for granted that the people's representatives always give ear to the people. Often they lend their ears only to some people, and for quite a long and profitable time too," said Jyothi Sekasahitha. "I believe that many of these representatives would already have worked out the easy way of beating the increased cost of breakfast and lunch," said Vishva Avishvaasa. "How is that?" I asked. "Very simple," he said. There are always people with special interests who will be ready to provide breakfast, lunch and even dinner at their own cost, without letting the representative spend a cent on meals for a day. They may even supply meals to the entire family of the representative too. It's a rare representative indeed who can beat the snares and temptations of that type. The more we can have of such types, the better," he said. |
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