Thursday, April 02, 2009

PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED DROUGHT RELIEF IN THE NAME OF MODEL CODE CURSE OF THE POLL CODE

Officials Fear That Any Relief Measure May Violate Code; Observers Blame Lack Of Sincerity On Part Of Both Politicians & Administration

The general elections has come as a bane for almost two-thirds of Maharashtra, with the summer setting in early and the poll code making it difficult for the administration to take speedy action.

The mercury has already touched 42 degree Celsius in many parts of the state, the land wears a parched look, and the livestock are underfed. Yet the government machinery is unable (or claim their inability) to act as they need the Election Commission’s permission to undertake any relief measure.

In normal times, the government machinery makes water tankers available and releases fodder for the livestock. This year, however, the model code of conduct has paralysed the government.

Government officials now think twice before taking any decision that can be perceived as wooing or influencing the voters. They even defer routine decisions such as releasing water tankers or fodder, which normally do not need any approval from higher authorities.

“The government machinery cites model code of conduct to defend its inaction. Political parties are busy cashing in on farmers’ plight. But no one is sincere in addressing them,” said Vijay Javandia, a Vidarbha-based farm activist.

With water scarcity becoming an issue that can’t be wished away, local politicians, who are busy campaigning, too are demanding that drought relief measures be exempted from the model code of conduct.

“The situation is grim. We have written to the EC asking it to review the situation and relax the code of conduct,” BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari told ET. “Local level officers avoid taking any decision fearing the EC’s wrath,” he said.

“Though the government is aware of the situation, it’s not in a position to handle it on a war footing. There are certain restrictions,” said an official from the state’s relief and rehabilitation ministry. According to him, they (the officials) need the EC’s permission before undertaking any relief measures. “The process to get the EC nod for these measures has already been initiated. But it takes time to get every decision scrutinised,” the official said.

However, Mr Bhandari is not ready to buy the administration’s argument at face value. “Water and fodder supply to drought-hit areas has been kept out of the EC’s purview,” Mr Bhandari said referring to the precedent set by former chief election commissioner TN Sheshan.

He said Mr Sheshan had kept drought-relief measures out of the purview of the model code of conduct. “The code of conduct will be in force till May 16, the day votes will be counted. By then, the summer would be in its last leg. Does this mean the government will keep ignoring the drought-hit areas till then?” asked Mr Bhandari.

HNN had reported on Monday that many parts of Maharashtra were already witnessing severe water shortage, early into the summer. Many regions of the state, which received only about 30% of the total average rainfall last year, are facing severe water scarcity.

Regions like Darwha tehsil in Vidarbha’s Yavatmal district have demanded that the state government declare the tehsil as drought-hit and initiate measures to deal with it.

The district has a sugarcane cultivation of over 13,000 hectares along the banks of Adan river. It has been severely hit by scarcity of rainfall. Other crops like tur, cotton and vegetables are also under threat, and there is an urgent need for declaring the tehsil as drought-hit, they say.

“Many districts in Vidarbha have lost their entire soya bean crop. Theywere not given any relief earlier and now it’s not possible because of the elections. These farmers are left to fend for themselves,” Mr Javandia said.

Poll code doesn’t bar humanitarian, emergency relief measures: EC
The Election Commission has taken a serious view of the incidents in Maharashtra, wherein government officials tasked with drought relief work have cited election model code of conduct to put relief measures on hold. Reacting to a complaint made by the BJP that drought relief measures are not being carried out in parts of the state by government officials on the pretext that the code of conduct was in force, Election commissioner SY Qureshi made it clear that the poll code did not interfere with “humanitarian and emergency relief measures”. “This has been made clear umpteen times. Humanitarian work has to be carried out irrespective of the election code of conduct. We will pull up officials concerned if such cases are brought to our notice,” he said.

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