KARNATAKA
On a Splurge

Ministers outdo each other in claiming allowances.

By Stephen David

The monthly salary of a Karnataka minister is about the same as that of a peon in a nationalised bank: around Rs 3,000. But if you are wondering how they still carry on with their high-flying ways, consider this: each of them gets a monthly allowance of up to Rs 33,000. This includes a daily allowance of Rs 500 (it was Rs 250 earlier) and a 500-litre petrol quota (up from 300 litres till two months ago); there is in addition the Rs 8 per km (Rs 6 till recently) they get whenever they travel by road -- which is quite often.

What this means to the state Government is an expense of almost Rs 3 crore per year on allowances alone for members of the J.H. Patel Cabinet. The chief minister may be earnest about fiscal prudence -- he has claimed only Rs 5 lakh as allowances -- but some of his cabinet colleagues are evidently on a splurge. Sports Minister Ajay Kumar Sarnaik, now in the UK on an official tour, tops the list having drawn Rs 11.38 lakh as allowances last year. Closely following him are Urban Development Minister B.N. Bache Gowda at Rs 11.36 lakh, Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Rs 11.31 lakh, Cooperation Minister S.S. Patil at Rs 10.79 lakh and Ports and Fisheries Minister Jayaprakash Hegde at Rs 10.59 lakh.

Even a first-timer in the Cabinet, Minister for Prisons V. Somanna, has claimed Rs 5.40 lakh. Public Works Minister C.M. Udasi perhaps best explains why ministers like him find it difficult to practise what they preach: "In this profession, if you have to understand the needs of the people, you have to travel." And they are paid well to do that.

MADHYA PRADESH
The Exodus

Few stalwarts remain in the nation's cultural Mecca.

By Bharat Desai

It was a musician's paradise once, where long after the show was over, the arc lights would continue to shine; where the people, in a rare show of warmth, would stay on. But Bhopal is a different place now; and these days it is not the music but a spate of resignations by cultural figures that has reached a crescendo.

The latest to go is noted Hindi writer Doodhnath Singh, who quit the prestigious Nirala Sajanpeeth chair for Hindi writers, and left for Allahabad last month. Accompanying him was prominent dhrupad singer Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, who left for Mumbai. His reason: he was being paid too little for his services. And there are people who have suffered worse insults: Kathak guru Ram Lal, who heads the Chakradhar Natya Kendra, has even had his salary slashed by Rs 1,000. As Ashok Vajpeyi, who heads Bharat Bhavan, says, "Artistes like to be where they feel wanted. That is no longer the case in Bhopal."

The situation is grim. Most cultural centres, be it Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy, Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad, or the MP Sahitya Parishad, have been hit by a severe funds crunch. Even Bharat Bhavan's request for a Rs 25 lakh grant for repairs has been pending for months now. All in a city which, Indira Gandhi had once said, had the potential to become the cultural capital of the country.

KERALA
Dirty Deeds

Big names stand accused in a spate of sex rackets.

By M.G. Radhakrishnan

The state may not have its own Pamela Bordes -- at least not yet -- but Kerala seems to have carved out a niche for itself as far as sex rackets are concerned. The three unearthed recently are only further proof of what the high and mighty in the state are involved in.

It took Anveshi, a women's organisation led by former Naxalite leader Ajitha Narayanan, to blow the whistle on the latest scandal, in Kozhikode. One that may see a former Muslim League minister, a district CPI(M) leader, an ias officer and an IG of police in the dock. Incidentally, the police raided an ice cream parlour at the hub of the racket only on Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar's orders. They now have with them a diary recovered from Sreedevi -- the 'pimp' at the parlour -- and two cassettes of recorded conversations between clients and two Anveshi activists who posed as call girls. Says K.K. Savitri of Anveshi: "Big names are involved in the racket."

In another case, the police arrested 14 people, including four women, at Ernakulam recently. Says Police Commissioner Jacob Thomas: "Other suspects include some politicians, lawyers and businessmen." Not to mention a third scandal, in Vithura near Thiruvananthapuram, where the accused include a top Malayalam film comedian and an assistant collector of customs. In a state where high life and low deeds seem to go hand in hand, the case is now awaiting investigation by a special team constituted by the state Government on the recommendation of the police commissioner.

Write to us | Subscriptions

© Living Media India Ltd