Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 26: Notwithstanding their importance in redressal of grievances and disposal of complaints relating to implementation of Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and repeated instructions from the Union Government a number of times, the State Government has failed to appoint ombudsmen in all the districts of the State during the past three years. Similar is the fate of independent Social Audit Directorate, which is otherwise imperative to institutionalize regular social audits under the scheme.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Section 27(1) of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides for establishment of ombudsmen in all the districts where this Centrally Sponsored Scheme is under implementation to expeditiously redress the grievances with regard to the implementation of the scheme and ensure transparency and accountability, which are the cardinal principles underlying the implementation of the Act.
“However, this vital aspect has not received the required attention of the State Government during the past three years and ombudsman has not been appointed even in one district of the State so far”, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the implementation of NREGA in Jammu and Kashmir was actually started in 2006 when two districts were brought under its purview. In the second phase, some more districts were chosen for the implementation of scheme and finally in 2008 all the districts of the State brought under the ambit of NREGA.
Though after several reminders from the Union Rural Development Ministry, the Selection Committee headed by Chief Secretary, in the recent past, kick started the exercise towards appointment of ombudsmen by issuing an advertisement and inviting applications yet the same has not reached to the logical conclusion till date, sources said while disclosing that meeting of the Selection Committee had to be postponed in the month of July this year due to some unknown reasons.
“Even the number of applicants for the posts of ombudsmen is less than the required and in these circumstances the Selection Committee may consider appointment of one ombudsman for two districts but the same would be decided only when the Selection Committee meets, the date of which has not been decided till date”, sources said.
Keeping in view the prolonged delay in appointment of ombudsmen, the Union Government has directed the State Government to complete the process relating to appointment of ombudsmen in all the districts at the earliest but not later than October 2012, sources informed.
Similarly, the State has failed to set-up an independent Social Audit Directorate, which is otherwise imperative to institutionalize regular social audits for timely and effective grievances redressal under MGNREGA.
“Though social audits are aimed at increasing transparency and public accountability of NREGA yet the same are not conducted at the required level and pace in the absence of independent Social Audit Directorate”, sources said while revealing that only 381 out of 4148 Panchayats have been covered under the Social Audit by the Coordinators appointed in majority of the districts.
They informed that besides laying stress on appointment of ombudsmen, the Union Government has also directed the State to ensure a vibrant quality monitoring system for assets created under MGNREGA. “Adequate number of State Quality Monitors should be appointed to inspect the MGNREGA assets”, the Ministry has told the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
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