SARBHANG

How CDG is being used With MPs already on with projects CDG is a done deal

3 November, 2009 - Grinding machines, poultry farms, farmers’ cooperatives and walnut orchards are some of the Constituency Development Grant (CDG) activities National Assembly members have started implementing notwithstanding the objections on the grant.

The recent objection came from the Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, who wrote a letter to the prime minister to revoke the CDG, reasoning that it would compromise ‘free and fair election” among others.

Member of Parliament (MP) in Chukha, Ugay Tshering, has already pumped in Nu 0.5 million for a ‘cooperative milk society’ in Tala where dairy farmers will be supplying milk to agencies like Bhutan Dairy, Agro and Zimdra through the society. “The Nu 0.5m will be used as a rotating capital to first buy milk from these farmers and then sell to these agencies. The overall profit is shared by the society members,” said MP UgayTshering. “The individual farmers will not only receive timely payments but also benefit from the profit the society makes.”

Samdrup Jongkhar MP Ugyen Dorji said that several proposals such as purchase of grinding mills and farm machineries for communities were coming in from the gewogs. He said that before he approves any project, he had to ensure that it did not go against the CDG rules and regulations.

“There are stringent rules on where and how the Nu 2 million a year grant for five years could be spent,” he said. “We don’t see the money at all. As we approve a project, the money will be directly released by the dzongkhag to the gewog offices. The gewog officials will keep the accounts.”

According to CDG rules, an MP cannot use the fund for recurrent expenditures like paying monthly salary, telephone and transportation fees or make contributions and donations. MPs are also barred from using the grant to construct and renovate gewog offices buildings, and government staff quarters. The grant should benefit at least 10 households and fund more than 10 activities in five years.

Meanwhile, accounts officers Kuensel spoke to said that there has to be clearer rules on how the CDG could be spent since there has been so many controversies surrounding it. One of the officials said that Gelephu MP, Prem Kumar Gurung, has already made two payments from his CDG account to pay the boatman who operates the boat service in Gelephu, which could be construed as a recurrent expenditure. Recurrent expenditures are not allowed, according to CDG rules. Prem Kumar has reportedly kept aside Nu 320,000 for the 2009-2010 financial year from his CDG account to pay the boatman.

“It is not a capital expenditure. The money is being used for transportation service to keep the commuters happy in absence of the bridge,” said a source. “The monitoring process of CDG needs to be strengthened.” MP Prem Kumar could not be reached for comments.

Samtse’s Durga Prasad Chhetri is focusing on poverty alleviation but with countless number of proposals, the MP said that he would have to take some hard decisions. “My constituency has asked for construction of a farm road, community poultry and piggery, a cooperative diary society and cultivation of vegetables in the poor areas,” he said.

Nothing is going to stop CDG from being implemented and therefore, the focus should now be on how effectively each MP was using the amount, according to Ugay Tshering. “MPs have been given the money already. Some might misuse it while some might not,” he said.

By Phuntsho Chodenin Kuensel

Read Users' Comments (0)