M A I N   N E W S

EC puts on hold cash transfer plan in HP, Gujarat
Criticises timing of the Central scheme announcement, says it is avoidable
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 4
The Election Commission has directed the UPA government to keep in abeyance the implementation of direct cash transfer scheme in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh where the poll process is on.

The commission, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, criticised the timing of the scheme’s announcement and said it was “avoidable” during the election process. Going by the letter and spirit of the Model Code of Conduct, the announcement should not have been made, the ECI said in letter written to the Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth.

The ECI has further directed the Cabinet Secretary that all follow up and consequential steps towards the implementation of the scheme in four districts of Gujarat and the two districts of Himachal Pradesh, shall be kept in abeyance till completion of the election process in these two states.

As many as 51 districts across the country are proposed to be covered in the first phase of implementation of the scheme from January 1. Considering the government's response to its query on the issue, the poll body said: “It is silent with regard to the justification sought by the commission as to the necessity of announcement of the scheme at this juncture, when the Model Code of Conduct is in operation in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

While the commission has refrained from commenting on the merits of the policy, it said it was only seeing if the policy decision or announcement will have any impact on the election, if it is in progress.

While taking its decision, the commission considered the reply furnished by Secretary, Planning Commission, wherein details of the scheme of Aadhar-based direct cash transfer were furnished. The commission has also taken note of the statement made by the Finance Minister in his budget speech in March 2012. The government told the commission that it has already put on hold the preparatory work for implementation of cash transfer scheme till election process is over in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

The reason for deferment is that the government machinery is tied up with the election process, the sources said, insisting that it was not done at the behest of EC.