The Hindu Business Line : Making Parliament accountable to people

Going by published data, the performance of both the Lok Sabha (LS) and the Rajya Sabha (RS) in terms of the number of days they met, the number of hours they conducted their business every day and the number of bills introduced and passed has not been impressive. In the period 2000-07, only 2004 had been as bad or worse on all these counts.

For instance, the number of days the Houses were in session was close to 85 for LS and RS in 2000-02 and in 2005, but fell to 53 (LS) and 50 (RS) in 2004, and stood at 66 (LS) and 65 (RS) in 2007.

The hours of work put in by MPs on an average per day have also perceptibly declined from 5.02 (LS) and 4.04 (RS) in 2000 to 4.03 (LS) and 3.03 (RS) in 2007. There has similarly been a marked fall in the number of bills introduced and passed from 83 and 63 in 2000 to 56 and 46 in 2007. Another interesting piece of information is that MPs in the age group of 25 to 45 have not been actively participating in the proceedings of either House.

The above record patently fails to come up to the legitimate expectations of “We, the People”. Much of the shortfall in the performance is without doubt of the MPs’ own making. If only they had kept faith with the people who elect them and allowed the Houses to function smoothly and without interruption, they would have done better justice to their duties.

As things are, the work of the MPs, in people’s eyes, has not measured up to the salaries, allowances and perks they receive from out of the taxpayers’ money.

Here is a list of their entitlements: Rs 12,000 by way of monthly salary, Rs 14,000 for office expenses every month, a monthly constituency allowance of Rs 10,000, a daily allowance of Rs 500 for attending sessions of Parliament and its Committees and a daily travel allowance of Rs 8 per kilometre. In addition, each MP and the spouse or companion is entitled to unlimited free first class rail travel and 40 free air trips in business class every year anywhere in the country.

A facade and a farce

The MPs bungalows are furnished with air-conditioners, refrigerators and TV sets and maintained at the expense of tax payers, at a monthly rent of only Rs 2,000.

Besides, generous provisions have been made for free electricity, free water and free phone calls. Of course, their medical expenses are also taken care of without any limit.

Even with such pampering, there are instances of their piling up combined arrears of rent and other dues amounting to crores of rupees and getting caught red-handed in media stings accepting bribes or cash-for-questions.

Even after an MP fails to get elected, he gets a basic pension of Rs 3,000 per month to which a liberal quantum is added for each year of his incumbency in Parliament.

The presiding officers of both Houses have repeatedly expressed their helplessness in calling the MPs to account.

Rather than using the powers given to them under the Rules, they adjourn the Houses when unruly scenes break out and proceedings are obstructed.

The MPs, however, cutting across party affiliations, display spectacular unity in giving raises to themselves and shooting down proposals for electoral reforms earnestly urged by the Election Commission and the civil society for years.

The only way to avert the danger of democracy degenerating into a facade and a farce is to make Parliament accountable to people. This should be made the top item of the next Presiding Officers’ Conference.

B. S. RAGHAVAN