AAP MLAs: Committed to public service without salaries, perks

Despite a raging controversy over their disqualification, parliamentary secretaries in the Delhi government claim they are entrenched in their commitment to “public service” without salaries or perks.

Their jobs are in jeopardy as the EC is hearing a complaint against their disqualification over allegedly holding offices-of-profit.

Praveen Kumar, parliamentary secretary to the minister of education, said he inspects two schools every week and relies on school management committees (SMC) to provide him with latest news on what is happening in schools across the capital.

Mr Kumar told this newspaper that the AAP government has built a strong network of 3,000 SMC members, comprising of parents. According to him, the SMCs make “schools responsible to parents”.

Twenty-one AAP MLAs were appointed as parliamentary secretaries to various ministers following the Kejriwal government’s March 13, 2015 order, according to which they are only allowed to use government transport and operate from ministers’ offices.

Mr Kumar said he doesn’t use government vehicle on his inspectional visits to schools, and instead, relies on local party workers to arrange his transportation.

Anil Kumar Bajpai, parliamentary secretary to health minister Satyendra Jain, said he takes rounds of the government hospitals located in the east Delhi area, including Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences and submits reports.

“My work usually involves providing help to the patients if they are unable to find a bed, get proper care at the hospitals or face problems in getting ultrasound or blood transfusion done. We are doing public service without getting any perks or benefits for it,” Mr Bajpai said.

His colleague, Jarnail Singh, who is attached to Mr Jain’s power ministry, said that since the minister has various portfolios, it is practically impossible for him to take people’s feedback. With five other portfolios, besides power and health, Mr Jain has the most number of departments under him after deputy chief minister Sisodia.

“We fill in the gap between the public and the government and provide the people’s feedback to the minister. We also assist people in resolving their issues regarding their electricity bills — getting new bills made or rectifying the old and erroneous ones,” Mr Singh said.

He said that he operates from his MLA office itself and ever since the controversy over holding the dual office has erupted, his work as a parliamentary secretary has suffered.

Mr Kumar, who is attached to Mr Sisodia’s education ministry, said he is less excited about his job after the EC issued notice over their selection. He blamed BJP and Congress for creating hurdles.

According to AAP’s reply to the EC notice, the parliamentary secretaries work without supporting staff, travel allowances and telephone facility. But on whether any office space has been provided to them, the party told EC, “This part of the information is being collected from all departments.”

In his interactive “Talk to AK” programme last week, Mr Kejriwal said the post of parliamentary secretaries were created so that the MLAs like Mr Kumar could inspect schools outside their constituency.