Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 7: Much publicized Planning Board, which was proposed to be constituted by the State Government for equal distribution of funds in all three regions of the State and monitor expenditure of plan works in the districts, was yet to see light of the day even as the Government claimed that it would be constituted shortly. The Government planned to keep the Board autonomous.
Anticipating that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had given up the portfolio of Planning Department during January 15 reshuffle of the Council of Ministry and portfolios, could face questions in upcoming budget session of the Legislature on the constitution of the Planning Board to remove “regional disparities’’ in allocation of funds, the Government has geared up the process to set up the Board but admitted that it could still take a lot of time.
Omar had during last budget session of the Legislature announced constitution of the Planning Board while speaking during debate on the grants of his Ministries, which included Planning Department, following uproar by the Opposition MLAs from Jammu alleging “regional disparities’’ in plan distribution.
The Planning Board was to be headed by the Chief Minister himself and had members, who would be the experts in Planning, Finance etc.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Government was in the process of finding Planning and Finance experts for appointment as Members to the Board, which would be headed by Omar Abdullah in his capacity as the Chief Minister. Planning and Development Minister (presently veteran National Conference leader Ajay Sadhotra) would be Vice Chairperson of the Board.
Sources admitted that going by the process, the constitution of the Planning Board could take sometime though the Government wanted the Board to be set up well before the budget session of the Legislature, starting February 28.
According to sources, the Government has asked the Planning Department to identify Finance and Planning experts to serve as Members of the Board. They said the process could take sometime as a number of experts had to be examined and finally the Cabinet or the Chief Minister himself had to take a decision on the Members.
Sources pointed out that the Planning Board could have one member each from all three regions—Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh though such a provision was not mandatory. However, since often the voices of discrimination had risen from all three regions especially the backward pockets of the State, the Government would like to have Members of the Board from all three regions to ensure that the charges of discrimination, for which the Board was being constituted, were silenced.
Worthwhile to mention here that the State Finance Commission (SFC) set up by the State Government with a Member each from three regions had submitted its report nearly two years back in which allegations of discrimination in allocation of funds had been authenticated.
Three Interlocutors appointed by the Union Government—Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MA Ansari—in their report to the Home Ministry have also noted disparities in allocation of funds for development to the three regions.
Sources said the constitution of the Planning Board was aimed at avoiding the allegations of discrimination in funds as the Board would be empowered to allocate the funds taking various factors into account including backwardness of the districts, requirements of new schemes etc.
“As the Planning Board would be an autonomous body, the Government hoped that it would do justice with all three regions especially bad pockets of the State to ensure equitable development of the three regions’’, sources said.
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