One of the main functions of the District Development Board is the development of district in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the people of the area. In other words, the purpose of the very concept of District Development Board (DDB) is serving the public interests and improving their lot, deliberate upon and finalize annual plan, take a stock of achievements and failures on periodic basis in terms of vital projects directly related with the development of the district etc. However, it is quite unexpected that the DDB too can be made hostage to imperial type protocol observance, political maneuverings and a platform of nursing grudges against one another and last but not the least, an extreme unbecoming of an act by the public representatives in the form of not attending such meetings at all?
This is all what unfortunately was witnessed recently in Kathua where three MLAs of the district including one Cabinet Minister, two former Cabinet Ministers, did not attend the DDB meeting convened at Kathua on May 5. Knowing fully, perhaps, that no one was going to question their absence, vice chairmen of various Boards and Corporations too, did not attend the said meeting.
When such is the level of importance accorded to high profile meetings with critical agenda for the development of a particular district like the DDB, it can well be imagined as to why the outcome of most of the planned schemes and projects approved of and decided in such meetings have poor performance rate.
Holding “Party Darbar” or touring different parts of the State or not having received the proper invitation are pleas unacceptable and untenable besides extraneous to the purpose of the DDB meetings. This reflects badly on the overall image of the Government and those who are directly or indirectly part of or associated with the Government that they bothered for issues more that were other than the ones of most importance discussed, deliberated upon and decided in DDB meetings. The meeting of May 5, proved a damp squib and thus a mockery of such important meeting took place which, we are afraid, reflects poorly on the dispensation of the day.
Poor functioning of the Tourism Development Authority with no budget sanctioned so far, non issuance of forest clearance certificates to roads constructed under PMGSY, releasing of compensation for shifting of utility, failure to open fair price shops and inordinate delay in sanctioning of ration cards under BPL and APL categories etc all resulting in the sufferings and difficulties undergone by the people were, however, aired in the said meeting in spite of unusually less than normal quorum.
Minister Sham Lal Choudhry, however, while addressing the meeting instructed the concerned authorities to ensure no funds lapsed for want of non utilization on approved schemes and that power and drinking water supplies during summer season remained uninterrupted in the area. We, however, urge the Government to create a climate of fixing responsibilities and accountability, without exception, to maintain the status, dignity and the importance of meetings of the District Development Boards.
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