A saga of a corrupt politico
Getting his grounding for better performance at national level?
Astory about a politico, who swindled a whopping Rs. 30 million from funds set apart for providing footwear to school children of low income families, figures prominently in small-talk in political circles these days.
This politico, now a high-up of a State establishment, was once a faithful hanger-on to Satakaya.
From the time he was appointed to high office in Yahapalanaya by an unexpected stroke of luck, he used his new position for his own advancement, not a wee bit for the betterment of area he was supposed to look after.
Once he got a very high political authority to present State honours to a select group of businessmen from his area at a ceremony organised on his initiative. At this ceremony he made a solemn vow to do his best to empower and protect the local businessmen so that they could make their best possible contribution towards the country’s development.
The politico played his master stroke when he called for tenders from local manufacturers to the supply of 100,000 pairs of shoes for distribution among schoolchildren from low income families in his area.
There was one particular condition stipulated in the Played his master stroke when he called for tenders from local manufacturers to the supply of 100,000 pairs of shoes for schoolchildren Stock of pairs should be delivered within 14 days of a date mentioned Local producers quoted rates between Rs. 700 and Rs.800 a pair The MNC uoted Rs. 1,200. The politico swindled over Rs.30 mn .... Tender Notice that gave a jolt to the interested footwear manufacturers: That the stock of pairs should be delivered within 14 days of a date mentioned in the notice. However, the footwear manufacturers took up the challenge to supply the required number of shoes before the set deadline. They quoted highly competitive rates between Rs. 700 and Rs.800 per pair. Meanwhile, the local manufacturers had reached an understanding to help the successful bidder with their own stocks in case the number of pairs he could supply fell short of the stipulated target.
However, in the end the politico awarded the contract to a multinational in the country. From the time he was appointed to high office in Yahapalanaya by an unexpected stroke of luck, he used his new position for his own advancement, not a wee bit for the betterment of area he was supposed to look after.
The multinational corporation had quoted a price of nearly Rs. 1,200 per pair. By carrying out the pre-arranged plan, the politico swindled over Rs. 30 million at the rate of Rs. 300 per pair. Although, the 14-day condition for supplying the full stock was imposed on the local manufacturers, the politico had gone soft on the multinational in this respect. For, they are allowed to supply the required quota in instalments! Besides, they are yet to supply a part of the stock due for the year 2017.
The politico made money out of even garbage, which has become a national issue.
He has had easy pickings from garbage management projects being implemented by local bodies as well as garbage disposal points. He also had collected kickbacks for giving legal validity to garbage collecting centres which have been set up without due approval from environmental authorities. Once those running a certain financial institution in a rural area looted the monies of the depositors, there was strident public outcry against the institution. On this occasion, this politico took the side of the rogues, not that of the people.
It goes without saying that most of our corrupt politicos at national level have had their grounding in bribe-taking and other dishonest and fraudulent activity, while holding public office at low levels of the polity.
People who know the track record of this politico wonder whether this politico has been purposely installed in a high office at the periphery to enable him to get the necessary schooling in all forms of corruption, so that he could efficiently practice the ‘trade’ come his day, to reach the national level!