There are a number of centrally sponsored projects which States normally welcome and undertake to initiate in accordance with the instructions and guideline prepared by the Centre. There are a number of such schemes in the pipeline some of which our State Government has implemented but there are many of them that have been delayed for full implementation for one reason or the other. More often there is lack of coordination among various departments that are involved in the implementation of the scheme. But inefficiency and irresponsibility also contribute to inordinate delay in implementing vital schemes. We have observed that in most of the schemes, the State Government finds some technical flaws keeping in mind the administrative practices and the special status of the J&K State as laid down in the Constitution of India.
The case in point is of appointment of Ombudsmen under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) one for each district of the State. This scheme was first launched in 2006 in six districts of the State and later on it was extended to all the 22 districts. It is mandatory for the recipient State to appoint an Ombudsman in each district with the clear terms of reference that he or she will report on the progress of the scheme or project undertaken for implementation in respective district. This is the condition where the State Government got stuck up for many years. For next four years, the State Government did not do the follow-up exercise. It was only in October 2012 that the Government decided to call applications from desirable candidates to fill the positions of Ombudsmen. About 100 applications from retired or retiring bureaucrats and other candidates were received out of which 12 have been rejected as they do not meet the format stipulated for recruitment.
The question now asked is why did the department allow a delay of nearly four years to happen ever since the scheme was adopted in 2006? Had the Government other ideas about the scheme? There should have been transparency in the process and the Rural Development Department which is supposed to be the concerned department responsible for the implementation of the scheme. What are the reservations of this Department and why has it not conveyed these clearly and threadbare to the Union Ministry of Rural Development, which reportedly, has been trying to pursue the State Government to do the exercise.
The simple inference from inordinate delay on the part of the Government in this particular project appears to be Government’s unwillingness to let the district authorities act under the supervision of the Ombudsman although he or she will be appointed by the Government of the State. If this is precisely the reason, then it speaks of lack of trust of the State Government. Nobody claims to be perfect nor is the order of the world really perfect. But we need to adjust to the circumstances. Government cannot afford to take Centre’s schemes lightly. Non-seriousness has been ruling the roost and the younger generation is not attuned to this way of doing things. A scheme with vital implications for the broad masses of people cannot be scuttled just because the Government does not find the candidates for the position of Ombudsman to its choice. The criterion for the applicant has been set forth and stated in the advertisement, and then Government is free to do the screening which it has once done. Even then the things are not moving. Therefore all that can be said is that the Government has to demonstrate seriousness in implementing the scheme make the selections of ombudsmen from among the applicants if these are considered eligible in accordance with the advertisement and then shortlist the applicants.
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