Inability of the State Government to implement Centrally sponsored schemes has become a recurring fault. In the process, the State is missing many an opportunity of social and economic development. Why is this phenomenon become so chronic is a matter of worry especially for the people of the State. Just because the Government is not taking things seriously, it has to meet embarrassing situation. The pretext we always hear is that either the funds are not released at proper time or that the schemes needs modification to suit local environments. Both pretexts are untenable and contradiction in terms. A close study of this phenomenon reveals that funds are released to the State Government but it is the Finance Department where so many bottlenecks need to be crossed. In other words red tape is much more complicated and intricate and does not easily permit implementation of the schemes.
We would like to make special mention of two very prestigious schemes of the Centre that are crucial to big and meaningful social as well as economic change in the State. These are Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). The essential features of these two educational schemes are first to eradicate illiteracy among the people and second is to propagate for at least secondary level education throughout the country. J&K is among the States that are supposed to implement the programme. A team of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development was in the State to asses the performance of the State in regard to these two schemes. To the surprise of the Secretary to the HRD Ministry, she found that the schemes have not been implemented at all. It was found that the first installment of Rs 135 crore released to Jammu and Kashmir under SSA during the beginning of 2014-15 financial year remained unspent till date. Actually, the State Finance Department did not release the same to the Project Director SSA, which otherwise was mandatory as per the guidelines of the scheme. It has to be noted that the normal practice with the Central Government is that whenever a mega social and economic project is conceived and approved in terms of planning and financing, the concerned ministry prepares the guidelines and the roadmap for its implementation and this note is appended to the scheme and grant of funds when it is forwarded to the States. At the same time, the Central Government departments are enjoined upon to monitor the progress of these schemes in the States. It is this roadmap that seems to be the irritant for the State of Jammu and Kashmir because usually it is found that the State Government responds with modified specifications. We can understand the compulsion of the State Government to suggest modification. For example it has to cater to the needs of three and not one region of the State and the social construct of these regions varies to a greater length. As such modifications might be a necessity. However, this should not become a reason for the State to leave the project unattended or half way and they say that the changes were not accepted and the scheme had to be stalled. That is not justifiable.
It is highly disappointing that when all other states are able to implement the schemes smoothly and its benefits accrue to the common man, our State and its people remain distanced for benefits. During the evaluation conducted by the team of the HRD, it is found that the State Finance Department withheld the grants from the Project Director and diverted them to other departments. Diverting these grants to other heads is strictly disallowed under the guidelines even if the funds have not been fully utilized. The HRD has taken very serious note of diversion of funds and has refused to grant any funds to the State under these two flagship schemes. The HRD Ministry sanctioned grant of 92 crore rupees for establishing Model School component but the J&K Education Department failed to implement the scheme and utilize the money for the purpose. HRD Ministry cannot be faulted for asking return of 92 crore rupees.
The HRD Ministry cannot be faulted if it has taken strict measures to impose curbs on release of remaining installments of the grants under these two and other schemes. Economic development of the State presupposes development and spread of education among the people. Even political and social developments are also very closely linked to education. The State political leadership does accept the importance of education for overall progress but on the ground we find that the Government is not as much serious in facilitating the people in access to education. This is a sad state of affairs. Education Department will have to explain to the people why they deprived of the benefits of various important schemes floated by the Centre.
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