To date, the nazims have been criticised immensely by all quarters for financial corruption. However, I would like to draw the attention of your worthy readers to the post-devolution corruption taking place at taluka level in Sindh.
When the local government elections were postponed in Sindh last year, administrators were appointed to exercise the powers of zila, taluka and Union Nazims.
Consequently, the political setup formed a lot of space for itself to suck out the funds of local bodies through their corrupt cronies.
At the district level, the concerned DCOs were appointed as administrators but at the taluka level, no uniform rule was established. Instead the three major parties, PPP, MQM and PML (F), distributed the seats of taluka nazims among themselves keeping in view the political affiliation of the taluka nazim concerned.
The first blow was struck by secretary Local Government Department who, in fact, is a school teacher but made provincial secretary. He telephoned all the TMOs of Sindh to bring Rs700,000 each and receive orders of their appointment as taluka administrators.
The MNAs and MPAs of the three major parties have distributed seats among themselves. Any ambitious person may pay the concerned MNA/MPA and get charge of taluka administrator.
It may be noted that the TMAs allegedly receive millions of rupees every month as a result of the OZT (Octroi Zila Tax) and other funds from the Local Government Department every month.
The moment the funds are received, they are distributed among the MNAs and some portion taken away by the administrators.
The strange aspect of the whole phenomenon is that nowhere in the whole province of Sindh will one see a single young DMG officer as taluka administrator.
If the DDO-R is a ranker, he is administrator and if DDO-R is of DMG, then the TMOs are appointed as administrator. The worst sufferers are the common people. Sindh is undergoing worst problems of clean drinking water, drainage and solid waste disposal. How can TMAs work well when administrators are especially sent to suck out all its funds?
The media, which is playing a very positive role, is also responsible for negligence. It has never highlighted the huge corruption taking place due to political appointment in TMAs.
The best solution is to form a uniform rule for all talukas; either DD0-Rs be appointed as administrators or the TMOs. Powers of appointment of administrators should be taken away from MNAs/MPAs if we want to stop corruption and solve the problems of the people.
A CIVIL SERVANT
Karachi
Source:
http://www.dawn.com/index.php?action...17&seed=352909