How can the nation progress if those that make the laws, direct the government and monitor performance are themselves buried in the quicksand of irregularities? Such questions come to the mind of anyone who reads the recent report by the Auditor General.

According to the report, MPs have together been pocketing an amount equal to Rs 14,90,000 as Dasai allowance every year. Past reports too have been pointing this out. The law on salaries and allowances of MPs does not mention Dasai allowances. But, every year, as Dasai approaches, they take the allowance like other public employees do. What is interesting is that even the Public Affairs Committee is trying to hide the fact. It has said that in order to be able to enjoy the facility, the allowance has to be mentioned in the law itself. But after all the MPs themselves are the lawmakers.

The Parliament has also given the Speaker and Chairman (of the Upper House) authority to disburse economic assistance. The Speaker and Chairman together distributed Rs 141,000 to their constituents. The private secretary of the Deputy Speaker was given Rs 4000 and another 10 unnamed persons were given Rs 11,000 each. Further, a total of 11 MPs pocketed the salary of their private secretaries themselves or received the money on their behalf this year.