Timely implementation

18/02/2018

Not with standing 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 a total of 567 decisions were taken by the District Development Boards of 20 districts during 2015-16. 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. 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.

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