*Time frame for several services fixed irrationally
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 17: The much talked about Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), which was enacted to ensure timely services to the common masses, has failed to yield desirable results even after the lapse of five years as no focus has so far been laid on making provision of funds and dedicated manpower, which are imperative for effective implementation of this legislation.
Moreover, the General Administration Department, which is the nodal agency at the State level, has failed to conduct periodic review of implementation of the Act so as to find out the lacunas.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has twice expressed serious concern over non-adherence to timelines fixed for providing services identified under Public Service Guarantee Act during the past one week.
According to the information collected by EXCELSIOR from various implementing authorities in majority of the districts, lack of special manpower and funds are responsible for poor implementation of PSGA.
Not only at the time of enactment of this legislation even thereafter no focus was ever laid on earmarking funds to facilitate timely services to the people despite the fact that need of funds is being regularly felt particularly in some vital sectors.
Quoting some examples, sources said that for providing power and water connections the requirement of funds is usually felt. The officers of Public Health Engineering and Power Development Departments generally pass directions to the staff for installation of power and water connections by mentioning “subject to availability of funds”. They cite requirement of funds for laying of water pipes, installation of poles and service wires.
What to talk of funds for implementation of Public Service Guarantee Act, there is no provision for generating awareness among the people. It is because of lack of awareness that people are not filing appeals before First and Second Appellate Authorities after being denied services within the specified period.
There is a provision in the Act whereby the delinquent officers can be punished for denying services to the people within specified timeframe.
Manpower shortage is another roadblock in the effective implementation of PSGA as at the time of enactment of the Act no focus was ever laid on this vital aspect. “The offices of SDMs, Tehsildars and Additional District Development Commissioners are under tremendous pressure in the absence of adequate manpower”, sources said.
Similarly, the sanctioned strength of staff in the offices of the Deputy Commissioners is almost the same as it was prior to the enactment of PSGA. The same structure of manpower is doing multifarious duties like revenue related works, complaints of general nature and applications under Right to Information Act and Public Service Guarantee Act.
Notwithstanding the fact that periodic review of implementation of any piece of legislation is imperative to find out lacunas and take corrective steps, this exercise has not been carried out during the past quite long time by the General Administration Department, which is the State level agency assigned the task of ensuring effective implementation of PSGA.
“Had this step been taken periodically the implementation of PSGA would have improved considerably”, sources said while disclosing that focus was more on addition of services than finding out lacunas.
Stating that timeframe for some services has been fixed irrationally and need immediate review, sources, while quoting an example said, “there is same time-frame for demarcation of one kanal of land and 400 kanal of land”, adding “there can’t be uniform timeframe for one service consuming less time and another consuming huge time”.
When contacted, Commissioner/ Secretary, General Administration Department, Gazzanfar Hussain said, “Chief Minister has stressed that implementation mechanism of PSGA shall be reviewed to ensure timely services to the people”, adding “we are going to take some corrective measures so that lacunas, if any, are removed and the objective of the Act is achieved”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel