‘Small is good’ goes the saying. In a major cabinet decision, the State Government has ordered comprehensive geographical and territorial reorganization of the State with the main objective of streamlining the administration by creating more administrative units. In fact for quite some years, it was felt at higher administrative levels that with the expansion of developmental work in the State, the existing administrative structure needed reorganization. There have been administrative complications, no doubt, owing to the physical expanse of existing units. More complications were created by the ground reality that ours is a hilly State and a vast area is so located as to make organs of administration sometimes feel it difficult to keep track of developmental activity and suggest reforms and improvements if and when needed.
In view of this, the Cabinet has constituted a Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Minister to report on streamlining of the geographical and territorial limits of new administrative units. The Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) worked painstakingly on its details, particularly in consultation with the Revenue and Rural Development Departments and submitted its final report in February last. It is on the basis of this report that the Cabinet has now taken important decision of far-reaching consequences which, when implemented will mean substantial improvement and upgrading of district administration of the State.
Two orders approving creation of 659 new units were issued by the Revenue Department and Rural Development Department in this connection. Government order has approved creation of 46 new Sub Divisions, 135 Tehsils, 177 blocks and 301 Niabats.
The Government order said the geographical and territorial limits of newly created and adjoining existing administrative units will be notified separately as required under Section 5 of Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act. In a major departure from long standing system available in the Revenue Department of Patwar Halqa being at the base of the structural pyramid of the revenue department, the Cabinet has decided to convert all 3000 recommended Patwar Halqas into Panchayat Halqas which will serve the same purpose as the Patwar Halqa. As many as 1239 new posts will be created for Rural Department and Panchayati Raj Department. Revenue or administrative staff for the new units will be housed in the Panchayat Garhs or rented accommodation will be taken till proper departmental accommodation is made available. There are other logistical details in this connection and concerned offices and officers will be instructed to follow them.
As has been said in the beginning the ultimate purpose is to streamline the administration. We talk about good governance. It does not mean only honest and incorruptible functionaries who run the administration of the State. That is perhaps the first requirement of good governance. But apart from that working system also matters much. Territorial reorganization that has been decided by the Cabinet is a very important and effective measure to strengthen the concept of good governance. With the creation of new sub-units, efficiency and speed of disposing off official business will be generated. People in rural areas, who had to travel long distances in the district to reach a Government functionary for the redress of his grievances, will be spared these long travels. With the creation of new sub-divisions, tehsils, niabats and halqas, the task of rural population that very often needs to be in contact with them will be eased to a maximum degree.
Setting up of new administrative and revenue units will entail substantial expenditure and a new head in the budget. We hope that the Cabinet has taken the budgetary aspect of the reorganization scheme into consideration. This decision should not remain confined to the files and documents but should be translated into practice as early as possible. People should not get an impression that it is only election stunt. We know that its implementation will take its own time and nothing can happy in a hurry. But the ball has to be set rolling. Cabinet decision has to be welcomed because it is a bold decision aimed at strengthening the concept of good governance.
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