Unholy Nexus

The latest issue centring round a particular MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) in Assam has once again brought to the fore the unholy nexus comprising politicians, officers and contractors, where funds meant for the welfare and benefit of the common people have been allegedly syphoned off. In the instant case, as has been prominently reported by this newspaper on Sunday, one senior lady ACS officer in the rank of a deputy secretary has been already dismissed, while two other ACS officers, including a district development commissioner, apart from an assistant executive engineer, have been placed under suspension. The politician accused in this case is a sitting Rajya Sabha member who was once a prominent journalist and editor. The government has moved the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs seeking sanction for prosecution against him. The contractor(s) involved in this particular case have not yet been named or identified. This is not the first time that allegations of misappropriation of MPLAD funds have come to light. The politician-officer-contractor nexus in India is well known for over seven decades now. A section of politicians, government officials, and contractors collude to exploit public resources and funds for personal gain. This nexus undermines the integrity of governance, leading to inefficiencies, financial irregularities, and a lack of accountability. Citizens must understand how this nexus works. First and foremost, politicians use their power to influence the award of contracts, often favouring contractors who are either their supporters or willing to pay bribes. Officers facilitate the process by overlooking irregularities, manipulating tender processes, and accepting bribes. Contractors play a crucial role by inflating project costs, executing substandard work, and completing projects without doing any work. As a consequence, public money is syphoned off. Moreover, poorly executed work with substandard materials and workmanship results in weak infrastructure. The worst part is there is a serious lack of accountability; all of them are interconnected and hand in glove to loot. It is not that there have been no efforts to combat such a nexus. Occasionally the media carries out sting operations to expose such nexus. Whistleblowers too play a major role in exposing the nexus. Strengthening regulatory systems can help curb corruption, but such systems are kept weak. The judiciary too can play a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption, ensuring that those involved are held accountable. The Vohra Committee report of 1993 had for the first time highlighted the criminalisation of politics and the nexus between criminals, politicians, and bureaucrats in India. The Right to Information Act (RTI) is a very effective weapon, provided the government and the Information Commission ensure that all RTI petitions are duly responded to within the given time frame. Unfortunately, in Assam, recent reports suggest that government departments do not provide information as laid down in the RTI Act.