A general observation is that although the State Government appreciates and welcomes extension of various Centrally sponsored developmental projects to our State, yet it wants to dodge the caveat which could make it practically accountable. In simpler words the State wants all sorts of financial support from the Centre without committing itself to the responsibility of accounting for the same. This is in no way a healthy sign of Centre-State relationship. If the centre floats any project, it is concerned that the end-result should be something that brings relief to the people. Naturally, if the purpose is not attained, the authorities have to answer for the shortcoming.
Let us be precise. Way back in 2006, the centre floated a well-known scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Rural development is a subject of much concern to the Union Government. 80 per cent of India’s population lives in rural areas. Our villages are still backward in many aspects, particularly in basics like health, roads, water, electricity, education etc. Real progress means progress of our villages. The Act in question was necessary because development of villages had to be speeded up. The scheme was extended to our State also and the norms were conveyed to the Government. One important condition for implementing the scheme was to appoint an ombudsman for each district. The ombudsman is required to be appointed in each district to consider complaints relating to the implementation of the scheme and take legal action. An ombudsman has the powers of issuing directions for spot investigation, lodging of FIRs against the erring parties, initiate suo moto proceedings and taking disciplinary and punitive actions against the defaulters. After experimental implementation of the scheme in six districts, the State Government decided to extend it to the entire State. Though the scheme desired to appoint an ombudsman in each district from the very first day of implementation of the scheme, yet six years have passed by and not a single ombudsman has been appointed. Central Ministry for Rural Development repeatedly wrote to the State Government to appoint the ombudsman but the response was subdued. Not only that. Even the State minister for Rural Development announced on the floor of the assembly during the recent budget session that ombudsmen would be appointed within a month. They have not been appointed.
It is to be noted that the Union Government has nominated two experts on the committee which the State Government would constitute for selecting candidates to be the ombudsmen. Why has the State Government been dodging the appointment of the ombudsman and not showing any keen interest in constituting the selection committee. This remains inexplicable. We don’t have the dearth of capable, honest and visionary persons in the State who could be considered to be ombudsmen. People can cast aspersions on the Government and even the Central Government must not be feeling happy over intentional procrastination tactics of the State Government. Why is the State Government mortally afraid of accountability? It is not doing any good service by hiding the facts from the broad masses of the people for whose welfare the entire scheme has been launched.
We are aware that in many cases where the Central Government was convinced that its sponsored schemes were not being properly implemented in the State, it had to step in and control the damage. Many projects were abandoned owing to irresponsibility of implementing authority. And the State Government with tongue in the cheek would bring onus on the doorsteps of the GOI that they are being discriminated against or starved for want of funds and many other antics. The State Government needs changing the mindset. Ours is a poor and backward State as it is largely a hilly State. We cannot afford to play hide and seek with our future and our development. We need to grab each and every occasion that is conducive to our quick development. Conditions laid down by the Central Government in case of various schemes are in the interests of the people at large, and the State Government should come out more than a mile to meet the requirements stipulated in the Central schemes for development of the country.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel