Government’s motorcycle subsidy scheme takes a political twist
Deliberately ignoring the country’s constitution, budgetary provisions and fiscal management responsibility, government authorities have begun distributing motor cycles worth Rs.200,000 at a subsidised price of Rs.50,000 to provincial politicians and policemen even before the conclusion of the 2015 budget.
The 2015 budget proposal permits the implementation of any of its proposals (other than taxes which come under ordinances that allows immediate implementation) only after it is passed in parliament and any other inclusions should be made by way of supplementary estimates during the respective financial year, a senior government official confirmed to the Business Times. He said Article 148 of the Constitution specifies that Parliament has full control over finances and the distribution of motor cycles to policemen and provincial politicians without the approval of parliament was against the constitution.
Expressing his dismay, a senior lawyer noted that no one can undermine democracy, parliament and in the process rights and freedom of the people of this country. He added that any addition to the budget should be made with the consent of the legislature.The government has already launched a highly politicised subsidy scheme to provide motor cycles for around 10,000 members of local government institutions and pradesheeya sabha members on the eve of presidential elections, official sources revealed.A group of ruling party pradesheeya sabha members who came in vehicles took away new motor cycles parked at Buddadasa Stadium at Pelawatta this week, eye witnesses said. Motorcycles were distributed among 1050 field officers in the Public Service including policemen in the Matara District at the Uyanwatte stadium recently, official sources revealed. Meanwhile the government is to forgo around Rs.15 billion of public money in implementing its highly politicised programme of providing100,000 motorcycles for field officers in the state service under a proposal made in (last year’s presented) 2014 budget.
The Treasury has issued the relevant budget circular on 23rd July 2014 and taken measures to procure Hero and Bajaj Discover motorcycles from local agents under the finance leasing method in accordance with requisitions being made by ministries and government institutions, official sources revealed.
The Department of National Budget (NBD) has made arrangements with state banks and the People’s Leasing Company, a subsidiary leasing company of the People’s Bank, on the terms and conditions of purchasing these motorbikes.
21,434 motor cycles were distributed among field officers at special ceremonies held in Anuradhapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Jaffna districts during the past four months.
Several Grama Seva officers and family health officers in the Matara district told the Business Times that the selection of field officers was made by provincial authorities considering their political affiliations.
According to budget circular 2/2004 the selection of these officers should be made on the recommendations and approval of the relevant line ministry or the chief secretary of the provincial council or any other authorised officer.
Finance Ministry sources said the ministry has received the lists of names of recipients and the task of distributing motor bikes has been vested with District and Divisional secretaries.
The state sector field officer will have to pay Rs. 50,000 to take over the ownership of the bike and a female officer can get a scooter, by making a down payment of Rs. 45,000.
The motorcycles are to be provided to Grama Seva, family health, Samurdhi, agricultural research, District Secretariat and Divisional Secretariat officials with the aim of providing a quality and efficient service to the public through state service, official sources disclosed.
The ownership of the motor bike will be transferred to the officer upon submission of the receipt of the payment of Rs.50, 000 (or Rs. 45,000 for scooter) to the consolidated fund through the respective line ministry or the department to the National Budget Department.