The money making
No matter, how clean the politicians claim, they try best to get cleansed but yet carry on with them the same character through the other way.
For centuries, the Bhutanese rulers continued to claim the corruption free bureaucracy and clean-imaged politicians. It was because, there were no one to raise questions against them.
The characteristics gradually come to the floor – all because of the plan the top leaders of the two-registered parties set. The whole process runs round the money making business.
First, the politicians decided to forego their sitting allowances trying to build their scarifying manifestation. While parliamentarians in many democracies walk on foot to their duties, the poor mountainous nation pays for luxury of its first elected parliamentarians.
With the government deciding a Toyota yaris for NA-NC members, the demand for the vehicle went up sharply. The Nu 700,000 for yaris grew by allowances for monthly fuel and vehicle maintenances. The luxury-demand goes up again for they wish to have allowance for drivers.
Remember, the politicians will also get custom duty scrapped while purchasing their vehicle, finally government loosing a huge amount on revenue generation.
There is already monthly salary they get. Additionally, they are given with huge sum in the name of constituency development. Now they get vehicle allowance, fuel and maintenance allowance and drivers pay. There are already attempts made for lump sum payment to parties and with sweeping majority of the ruling party in the parliament, the decision is likely to get endorsed.
It is pity to see, there is no one to hear what the opposition leader say in the parliament.
This won’t be a wonder if they further ask for money for clothing, housing and eating. Allowances for newspapers, TVs, phone, mobile, personal secretary etc are yet to get calculated.
Haa man Ugyen Tenzin, Punakha man Tshering Penjor, minister Yeshey Zimba, Gasa man Damchoe Dorji take lead in money bargaining.
To add, the parliamentarians will now get over Nu 100,000 a month plus Nu 700,000 for vehicle. That’s why the budget has to be increased substantially this year. Did you get the points?