For unknown reasons most of the centrally sponsored developmental schemes are not fully implemented in our State. Most of these schemes are meant for all states and some are exclusively meant for J&K State. While other states take full advantage of these schemes and projects, our State lags behind in most of the cases. Even such schemes as are exclusively meant for our state also remain optimally unutilised. This is the impression one gathers from various assessment reports that are sought by the concerned agencies of the central or state Government. Additionally, various committees constituted either by the Parliament of the State Legislative Assembly also endorse the views expressed above. Therefore it makes a case for in-depth study of the reasons why full implementation of centrally sponsored schemes does not take off in our State. In other words, we need to find out what obstructions are there to outright implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, and how these can be surmounted.
A paradoxical situation is confronting the State. Ours is a hilly state with harsh winter in two regions, viz. Kashmir and Ladakh, and harsh summer in Jammu region. Serious variance in climatic, geographical and topographical areas does not allow uniform implementation of various developmental schemes in time bound manner throughout the State. As such if full implementation of the scheme in any one of the three regions does not happen within the stipulated time frame, it should not be construed as total failure in the implementation of the scheme. But this notwithstanding, centrally sponsored developmental schemes are generally accompanied by conditionalities and accountability syndrome. Maybe that our managers and bureaucrats feel that stipulated conditions and accountability clause infringe with their administrative freedom. What they would want are schemes sans accountability. This has been a major irritant in full implementation of a number of centrally sponsored schemes.
The case in sight is about two centrally sponsored schemes meant to boost educational development in the State. These are (i) Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shikhsha Abhiyan and (ii) Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan. Both are meant to be implemented under the aegis of State School Education Department. The Committee on Estimates of Legislative Assembly has produced assessment report on ground situation in regard to these two schemes. It is a disappointing and discouraging report, and raises many serious questions about the competence of State Education Department to utilise the schemes in letter and in spirit. Only 13 KGBV schools have been opened out of an estimated number of 99 schools sanctioned in the scheme. The number of sanctioned schools was taken into account on the basis of low female literacy in J&K in comparison to female literacy in other states. The point is that when funding comes from the Centre as it is an approved scheme, why has not the State Education Department made full use of the scheme? Who is the ultimate looser owing to inefficiency of the authorities at the helm of affairs? The scheme given by the Central Government takes into account all infrastructural aspects as well as the facilities to be provided to the students. It is very unfortunate that the state authorities are treating such opportunities very casually. This is nothing short of criminal attitude when we consider the urgency of providing literacy to vast rural population of the State. Government’s stress is on affordable education for larger number of people who cannot afford to go to reputed institutions. One would say that a conscientious administration would have not only implemented the central scheme in toto but would have added something to it by way of share of the Government to make the scheme highly attractive and popular.
We would expect the Government to take cognizance of the fact that centrally sponsored schemes are not receiving due recognition of their importance and urgency. This shortcoming among the officials and executive agencies has to be overcome. The State cannot move forward along the path of overall development if crucial projects and schemes are not implemented in accordance with the roadmap provided. The report of the Estimates Committee should be taken in positive terms as a guide and path breaker and not to be brushed aside as something superfluous. It is tantamount to healthy and positive criticism and something has to be learnt from it.
Follow our WhatsApp channel