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Civil society activists demand 'accountability law' in Raj

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jul 01 2016 | 9:07 PM IST
Alleging massive corruption in PDS and pension schemes in operation in Rajasthan, civil society activists today demanded formulation of an "accountability law".
The activists urged the government to enact the "Rajasthan Bhaagidari, Jawaabdehi aur Saamajik Ankekshan Bill", the draft for which has already been prepared by them, to seek the accountability.
The Bill attempts to lay out a practical framework of accountability to the people and ensuring that citizens are "empowered to define, participate and monitor" the work of the administration in carrying out of their duties.
"The State must be accountable and completely transparent and accountable to the people (and) not to the CAG or to any senior officer or audit party," said prominent activist Aruna Roy.
Alleging irregularities in the list of eligible pensioners, the activists claimed in order to show an increase in "savings", the government is declaring people who are still alive as "dead" and denying them pensions.
To validate the claims, the testimonials of five people from Chak Hirat village in Rajasthan, who were allegedly declared "dead" by the government officials, irrespective of them presenting themselves in person, were brought forth.

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The activists alleged that, "10 lakh social security pensioners have been removed from the list of beneficiaries in Rajasthan. Out of these 10 lakh pensioners, 2,95,194 pensions were stopped because beneficiaries were declared to be dead".
"My pension was stopped five months back. When I tried to enquire at the Tehsil, the officials informed me that I had died," said 40-year-old Leela.
"I was told to re-apply for my pension," she added.
Impressing upon the importance of the accountability law, one of the founders of MKSS (Mazdoor Kishan Shakti Sangthan), Nikhil Dey said, "this law is important because when you are declaring 60-70 percent of the people dead and cutting them off from the pension list, the question will be who did it, why they did it and what will be the consequences?"
The activists also touched upon the irregularities in the public distribution system operational within the state.
Shiv Visavanathan, eminent sociologist, who had visited the 22 day dharna in Jaipur said, "people from rural India theorize about democracy better than anyone else and what is interesting about India is not its population but its 'missing' population".

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First Published: Jul 01 2016 | 9:07 PM IST

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