Black sheep in bureaucracy sabotaging PM’s vision for PRIs in J&K: Safeena Baig

‘Absence of development gives fodder to separatist agenda’

Ritesh Gupta/Sanjeev Sharma

JAMMU, Feb 1: District Development Council (DDC) Baramulla Chairperson, Safina Baig has claimed that certain black sheep in bureaucracy are displaying their duties in such a manner which may sabotage the dream of PM Modi to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in J&K.

In an exclusive interview with the Excelsior, she said that successful conduct of DDC elections was biggest achievement of the Government post August 5, 2019 political developments which fulfilled what PM had said in his Independence Day speech regarding strengthening of PRIs in J&K.
“DD Council is very powerful rural local body if it executes its powers completely with support of Government and administration but administration has some black sheep which does not understand this,” she said adding: “They (bureaucrats) should know how development is important for J&K especially for Kashmir as absence of development here breeds alienation and gives fodder to propagate separatist agenda to curse the Government of India.”
The DDC Chairperson said that politicians and officers in J&K should keep in mind that they are here not to get salaries only but also to build nation and restore peace.
“Unfortunately some DCs are not working up to the mark,” she maintained.
“We hold constitutional position as powers given to us are given by the Constitution of India and if anyone demolishes these institutions, that person is putting loss to the entire system of democracy,” she said.
She also said that protocol to DDC members facilitates them to execute the Government schemes on ground.
On funds, she informed that except plan funds, DDCs have nothing to spend on public works and voiced for some funds on the pattern of Constituency Development Funds of MLAs so that they may work properly for the people.
She informed that different types of funds available to them are under State Plan, district plan, Centre sponsored plan etc.
The DDC Chairperson voiced for rationalization of funds as per population.
She said though the tendering of works has curbed corruption to a large extent but as the working season in Kashmir is very less and tendering process is a lengthy procedure which affects development so the authorities should think of tendering for works of Rs. 3 lakh or above and there should be no tendering process for works incurring expenditure less than Rs. 3 lakh.
She also favoured early elections, restoration of Statehood to J&K soon to empower the people of J&K and said that without Statehood even MLAs will have limited powers.
“Implementation of Panchayati Raj System in J&K has empowered common people after successful DDC elections which even gave powers to women as many of DDC members in J&K are female,” Safina Baig maintained.
“Though the bureaucrats have a mindset that in UT they have an upper hand but they should not forget that politicians or elected public representatives have public support,” she said claiming that after becoming DDC chairperson she put priority to develop the National Highway in district Baramulla as it is a border district and the issue is of national interest on which the Government should work upon.
On powers, she said that powers to DDCs are very well defined but a training session for the representatives of rural local bodies should be there so that they may also know their about powers and jurisdictions.
She said that there is a need to check works like road construction for quality and claimed that corruption has almost become part of our DNA though the present Government has done a lot to curb the menace.
About Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), she said that after the demise of Mufti Sayeed, the Party leadership ignored stalwarts in the organisation while opportunists further deterred the condition of the Party.
“I was motivated by Mehbooba Mufti to contest DDC elections but before contesting, I consulted Baig and ultimately contested as an independent candidate,” she informed.
Safina concluded saying that LG is doing lot of hard work to strengthen PRIs but he should identify black sheep in bureaucracy and remove them.