This week, a news came that the Local Government has proposed for reduction of number of gewogs in the country. It is definitely a good news for small country like Bhutan where public resources could be saved for developmental activities than feeding few local leaders. The sacrifice is worth taking and we would appreciate that such moves should be taken by
the citizens as it is in the best interest of the country.
NOW, the next question is, SHOULDN'T THE NUMBER OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IS NOT TOO MANY? SHOULD WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PARLIAMENT TOO?
These are basic questions we should ask as each MP cost the public exchequer to a great extent considering the huge expenditure for their election from campaign funds to training our election officials, their expenditure and people's wastage of time and resource. A brief analysis of cost of each MP and comparative analysis of MP to citizen is given below:
MP ratio to Citizens with population
Bhutan: Total population in 2015 is just over 0.76 million as per National Statistical Bureau.
For every sixteen thousand (16000) Bhutanese, there is one Member of Parliament.
India: Total Population in 2014 is 1296 million.
For Every 2.3 million Indians have one Member of Parliament (Total electted MPs is 550)
USA: Total Population in 2014 is 318 Million
For every 0.7 Million American, there is one Representative in the House of Representative (Total Representative is 435)
Bangladesh : Population in 2014 is 158 million
For every 0.5 million Bangladeshi, there is one Member of Parliament (Total MPs is 300)
Japan: Population in 2014 is 127 Million
For every 0.3Million Japanese , there is one Representative (Total Representatives is 475)
Expenditure for each MP in Bhutan
The unaudited report by the Election Commission of Bhutan revealed that, total expenditure incurred for Second Parliamentary Election was Nu.382 which is about 5.7 Million for each Member of Parliament including the National Council.
A national newspaper, The Bhutanese revealed that each Member of Parliament receives approximately Nu. 123000 per month (Annually Nu.1.4 Million) and total of Nu.7 million in five years excluding their retirement benefits and tax free vehicle quota where normally they buy expensive Prado Land Cruisers). This also exclude all other expenditures like travelling entitlements within and outside travels, staff and office expenses while in office including office rents and utility bills etc.
Considering all these huge expenditure on the public money and country's population, it may be more necessary to review the requirement of such a huge number of members in the Parliament. For example, Delhi is one of the smallest Union Territories with a population of 18.2 million population has only 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly which means for MP to Population ratio is 1:0.2million population.
Bhutan as a small nation with very small economy, strong community vitality and oneness in the country, maintaining a small parliament which may be about 30 nos would do more than enough as we would still have for every thirty thousand of population would have at least one Member of the Parliament to represent them. Such move also ensure more credible candidates as competition in the political becomes more difficult and people will have better choices which would ultimately benefit the citizens and the country.
the citizens as it is in the best interest of the country.
NOW, the next question is, SHOULDN'T THE NUMBER OF MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IS NOT TOO MANY? SHOULD WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PARLIAMENT TOO?
These are basic questions we should ask as each MP cost the public exchequer to a great extent considering the huge expenditure for their election from campaign funds to training our election officials, their expenditure and people's wastage of time and resource. A brief analysis of cost of each MP and comparative analysis of MP to citizen is given below:
MP ratio to Citizens with population
Bhutan: Total population in 2015 is just over 0.76 million as per National Statistical Bureau.
For every sixteen thousand (16000) Bhutanese, there is one Member of Parliament.
India: Total Population in 2014 is 1296 million.
For Every 2.3 million Indians have one Member of Parliament (Total electted MPs is 550)
USA: Total Population in 2014 is 318 Million
For every 0.7 Million American, there is one Representative in the House of Representative (Total Representative is 435)
Bangladesh : Population in 2014 is 158 million
For every 0.5 million Bangladeshi, there is one Member of Parliament (Total MPs is 300)
Japan: Population in 2014 is 127 Million
For every 0.3Million Japanese , there is one Representative (Total Representatives is 475)
Expenditure for each MP in Bhutan
The unaudited report by the Election Commission of Bhutan revealed that, total expenditure incurred for Second Parliamentary Election was Nu.382 which is about 5.7 Million for each Member of Parliament including the National Council.
A national newspaper, The Bhutanese revealed that each Member of Parliament receives approximately Nu. 123000 per month (Annually Nu.1.4 Million) and total of Nu.7 million in five years excluding their retirement benefits and tax free vehicle quota where normally they buy expensive Prado Land Cruisers). This also exclude all other expenditures like travelling entitlements within and outside travels, staff and office expenses while in office including office rents and utility bills etc.
Considering all these huge expenditure on the public money and country's population, it may be more necessary to review the requirement of such a huge number of members in the Parliament. For example, Delhi is one of the smallest Union Territories with a population of 18.2 million population has only 70 Members of the Legislative Assembly which means for MP to Population ratio is 1:0.2million population.
Bhutan as a small nation with very small economy, strong community vitality and oneness in the country, maintaining a small parliament which may be about 30 nos would do more than enough as we would still have for every thirty thousand of population would have at least one Member of the Parliament to represent them. Such move also ensure more credible candidates as competition in the political becomes more difficult and people will have better choices which would ultimately benefit the citizens and the country.
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