*Complaints raised in DDBs, Legislature yet to get focus
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 14: Though the Government admits maladministration in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in different parts of the State, it has yet not initiated any step for ensuring transparency and accountability. Moreover, the issues raised by the Legislators both in the District Development Board meetings and on the floor of the Legislature have not been taken seriously till date.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that numerous complaints about maladministration in the implementation of flagship scheme of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme are regularly being received by the concerned authorities of the Rural Development Department in different parts of the State.
“The complaints generally pertain to payments against fake/bogus works and denial of guaranteed wages to the job card holders”, sources said, adding “there are also allegations about scheme having been hijacked by contractors in connivance with the officers and this has led to many irregularities”.
These complaints were also raised by the Legislators during the Budget Session of State Legislature earlier this year and while admitting that all was not well with the implementation of the scheme, the Rural Development Minister, Abdul Haq Khan had assured to take all possible steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of this scheme.
What to talk of the State Legislature, the elected representatives of the people even raised this issue during the District Development Board meetings chaired by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Quoting an example, sources said, “during the DDB meeting of Ramban it was brought before the Chief Minister that while the number of job card holders in the district was in thousands, the wages were paid only in hundreds”.
Even the Union Rural Development Ministry had recently admitted instances of corruption in implementation of MGNREGA but made it clear that only State Governments were required to initiate corrective steps.
However, the complaints in many areas of the State have remained un-resolved in the absence of proper monitoring mechanism at the district level, sources regretted while pointing towards non-appointment of Ombudsmen in all the districts to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of this scheme.
Section 21(1) of the NREGA empowers the States to appoint Ombudsmen for redressal of grievances in a time bound manner and ensuring transparency and accountability, which are the cardinal principles underlying the implementation of the scheme.
What to talk of appointment of Ombudsmen at the district level, the Government has even failed to constitute Selection Committee headed by Chief Secretary, which as per the Act, has the mandate to make appointment of Ombudsmen, sources said.
“The State has not taken this aspect seriously despite the fact that implementation of NREGA in Jammu and Kashmir was started way back in 2007″, sources said, adding even repeated reminders of the Union Rural Development Ministry in this regard have failed to bring the concerned authorities out of the deep slumber”.
“Those who were vociferous about appointment of Ombudsmen to ensure transparency in the implementation of the scheme seem to have forgotten this vital aspect after coming to power”, sources regretted.
When contacted, an officer of the Rural Development Department said, on the condition of anonymity, “in the recent past General Administration Department was approached for formulation of Selection Committee but till date no decision has been taken”, adding “in the absence of Selection Committee no exercise can be initiated for appointment of Ombudsmen”.
“Soon after constitution of Selection Committee, we will invite applications as per the provisions of the Act for the posts of Ombudsmen”, he said while expressing inability to specify any timeframe for completion of exercise. “Our exercise is purely dependent upon the GAD and they have to initiate first step in the direction of appointment of Ombudsmen”, the officer said.
“The prevailing situation indicates that Government wants to close eyes on the complaints of maladministration instead of uprooting the same”, sources said.
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