Credibility of ‘institution of inclusivity’ being eroded
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 8: Notwithstanding repeated concerns from the legislators of ruling as well as opposition parties, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has yet not evolved any mechanism for timely implementation of the decisions of the District Development Boards.
Due to this, the Government is not only eroding the credibility and authority of the ‘institution of inclusivity’ but also keeping the developmental aspirations of the people unaddressed.
This can be gauged from the fate of almost 50% of the decisions taken by the District Development Boards nearly three years back. Astonishingly, the meetings of the DDBs were chaired by none else than the then Chief Minister of the State.
While chairing the DDB meetings of 20 districts of the State during 2015-16 financial year the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had described the DDBs as ‘mini-legislatures’ and ‘institution of inclusivity’. For him, the DDBs were the institutions of empowerment for the legislators and a platform for their direct involvement in the development process at the ground level.
Even present Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has laid emphasis on strict implementation of the DDBs’ decisions while chairing numerous meetings of the bureaucrats. However, the ground situation has not improved up to the desired level.
As per the data provided by the Government in response to the question of National Conference MLA from Nagrota Devender Singh Rana in the Legislative Assembly today, a total of 567 decisions were taken by the District Development Boards of 20 districts during 2015-16.
However, only 302 decisions have been implemented in letter and spirit till date and fate of 265 other decisions is hanging in balance despite lapse of nearly three years. Their status has been shown as ‘under implementation’ in the official record.
As per the break-up, 17 decisions of DDB Jammu are pending for implementation while as in respect of Samba DDB 16 decisions are still ‘under implementation’
Seventeen decisions of Kathua DDB, 13 of Udhampur, 12 of Reasi, 19 of Doda, 15 each of Ramban and Kishtwar, 12 of Rajouri, 10 of Poonch, 5 of Srinagar, 18 of Pulwama, 10 each of Shopian and Anantnag, 11 of Bandipora, 6 of Baramulla, 11 of Budgam, 14 of Ganderbal, 23 of Kupwara and 11 of Kulgam are still pending for implementation.
If nearly 50% decisions of DDBs taken in 2015-16 are still pending for implementation what could be the fate of such decisions taken in 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial year remains a million dollar question.
It is pertinent to mention here that EXCELSIOR last year published series of news-items highlighting inaction on majority of the decisions taken by the District Development Boards and the same was also endorsed by the General Administration Department while issuing directions to all the departments for timely action.
However, inaction on almost 50% decisions of 2015-16 has clearly established that even explicit directions of the General Administration Department have fallen on deaf ears.
Even during the ongoing Budget Session the legislators cutting across party lines expressed concern over bureaucratic slackness in implementing the decisions of the DDBs.
“The Chairmen of the respective District Development Boards also cannot absolve themselves as it is their responsibility to ensure proper and timely action on the decisions of their respective Boards”, observers said.
The non-serious approach of the Chairmen is notwithstanding the fact that Government has mentioned in the reply to the question of National Conference MLA from Nagrota that follow-up action on the decisions is required to be obtained by the Chairmen during the course of DDB review meetings
Replying to another part of the question, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also Minister Incharge General Administration Department, said that four Cabinet Sub-Committees constituted on different subjects have furnished their recommendations during the past two years.
However, the information was incomplete as nearly a dozen Cabinet Sub-Committees were framed on different issues during last two years and majority of them could not furnish timely recommendations to the Government. This was also highlighted exclusively by EXCELSIOR.
The House was also informed that during 2017 only DDB meeting of Srinagar district was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister. This is in deviation from the practice stated by the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who preferred to chair DDB meetings of all districts.
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