Last one month and more, we have been analyzing the reports of House Committees on the performance of various departments and PSUs. We have also been reacting on the CAG report on various organizations. These are important reports because they substantiate the progress made and also the deficit that has not been overcome. Additionally, the report also suggests some reforms which would streamline governance. By and large, these are very impartial and unbiased reports even when criticizing some performance at different levels. One general impression that we have been getting from these reports is that in many Centrally sponsored schemes, the target has not been reached either in terms of time frame or in terms of the quantum and quality of work. Why has it been so and why many of Centrally sponsored schemes are not being implemented as desired. This question needs to be probed and a solution found. There is accountability with the Centrally sponsored schemes and if these are not completed within the time frame, allocations are cut. This all leaves a bad impression.
In particular, we are speaking about Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). The purpose of the scheme is to provide wider and better connectivity to the villages of India. We must know that 80 per cent of Indian population lives in villages and road connectivity is a priority with the Government. The Union Ministry of Rural Development has been very frugal to the State Government. During 2012-13, the Ministry had initially allocated rupees 732 crore to the State under PMGSY but it was soon increased to 990 crore. The reason for this increase was the consideration by the Union Ministry of Rural Development that J&K is a hilly state and lags behind many states in road connectivity. Its villages are dispersed over a vast hilly tract and additional funds are needed to connect these villages by fair weather roads or by roads meant for vehicular traffic. This was a goodwill gesture and it should have been reciprocated equally with earnestness.
But it was disappointing for the Union Ministry of Rural Development to know that the State Government had not been able to implement the project in full. Instead of reaching the target of 1285 kilometers of road, it could hardly make 796 kilometers up to 14 January 2014. The Union Ministry of Rural Development had been monitoring the progress and being alarmed that the progress was not satisfactory it had been reminding the State Government intermittently to set up the work of constructing rural roads. It appears that the State Government was not able to produce any satisfactory argument to justify delay in completing the road constructing work. It has to be noted that generally in cases where delay is made in the execution of Centrally sponsored schemes the argument put forward by the State Government is that funds are not released by the Government of India at proper time. But in the case of PMGSY there has not been any complaint of the sort, rather it is the Union Ministry which was wondering why the State Government was not utilizing the funds. The Union Government has taken a serious note of this situation. Even the Union Minister of Rural Development personally took up the matter with the Chief Minister of the State.
Disappointed with the performance of the State in this particular programme, the Union Ministry has been forced to take a very unpleasant decision of cutting down the allocations for the State for the financial year 2014-15 to 355 crore as against 990 crore during last year. The indicative annual allocation of Rs 355 crore is based on the execution capacity of the State, value of balance projects in hand, availability of unspent funds and absorption capacity.
The blame of reduced allocations comes squarely on the Government for its inability to deliver in accordance with the commitments. It is a loss to the State and especially to the rural population who should have drawn maximum benefit from the scheme. It is time that the Government of the state takes a holistic view of a phenomenon in which Centrally sponsored schemes are usually delayed and not completed in time. We cannot afford to lose huge allocations when the State is already starved of funds. Those who are in charge of executing these schemes are to be made answerable. There is lack of accountability and delivery is taken very casually. This is not the way how the State will progress.
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