POLITICAL scientist Dr Joseph Ketan has recommended three possible options for policy reform with the aim of ensuring that scarce government resources are effectively delivered to needy people in rural areas.
In a paper written for the Centre for Democratic Institution (CDI) at the Australian National University, Dr Ketan suggested the following options:
*Option 1: Remove the discretionary component of the Electoral Development Fund and provide these to the provinces to spend on priority areas such as health, education and transport, while MPs participate in the planning and budgeting process for non-discretionary funds, but do not need to touch any cash;
*Option 2: Divide the EDF between districts and churches, with churches taking care of the discretionary component to fund ongoing social service activities, while the districts look after the non-discretionary component to fund transport infrastructure and utilities; and
*Option 3: Abolish all slush funds, starting with parliamentary discretionary funds, and channel all government grants for rural development through the provincial and district planning and budget priority committees with its membership broadened to include representatives from all sectors of the community.
Dr Ketan said the three options for policy change involved removal of middlemen in the belief that resources would be directed to genuine projects that would benefit the entire community rather than serving the narrower interests of a few well-connected families.

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