Dr Raja MuzaffarBhat
Recently J&K Government constituted a high level vigilance and monitoring committee to monitor implementation of works undertaken by Rural Development Department (RDD). It is for the first time that such a type of committee has been constituted which consists of veteran parliamentarians, members from state legislature& reputed NGO’s . The members of this committee include former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad , Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, Srinagar MP Tariq Hamid Karra, Jammu MP Jugal Kishore and MP from Ladakh ThupsanTsewang. J&K’s Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Abdul Haq Khan is Chairman of the Committee. This State level Vigilance & Monitoring committee would look into effective implementation of several centrally sponsored schemes like MG NREGS , Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM) , and Indira Awas Yojna (IAY) and some other schemes which are presently being implemented by Rural Development Department in different districts of J&K state. In addition to MP’s,several MLA’s across the party line and members from reputed NGO’s to be nominated by State and Central Government’s constitute this State Vigilance & Monitoring Committee.
Mandate of the Committee :
* Supervise, exercise vigilance and monitor the implementation of programmes of Ministry of Rural Development Government of India.
* Monitor the flow of funds through various channels , including allocation , releases , utilization and unspent balances.
* Take all necessary measures to ensure that programme benefits flow the rural poor in full measure.
* Ensure that schemes are implemented in accordance with the guidelines.
* Look into complaints in respect of implementation of the programme , including complaints of misappropriation and diversion of funds and recommend follow up actions.
* Consider Evaluation Reports , Area Officers Reports & National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) Reports sent and should cause the necessary follow up action and corrective measure wherever required.
Previous orders :
In past also several measures were taken to ensure implementation of an important centrally sponsored scheme ie Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG NREGS). The Ministry of Rural Development in year 2009 had directed all the states to appoint Ombudsman in each district who would hear NREGS complaints, but J&K Government failed to act even till date. In December 2013 Jammu & Kashmir Government had planned to appoint NREGS Ombudsmen in some districts but in-spite of the lapse of almost three years the appointments are yet to be made inspite of the fact that applications for these appointments were sought from the eligible candidates few years back through local newspapers. In 2013 NC- Congress Government had planned to appoint NREGS Ombudsman for three to four districts while as Union Ministry of Rural Development’s guidelines had made it clear through its notification that one Ombudsman was to appointed in each district. Neither has the Government appointed one Ombudsman for three districts nor each one for a single district and this is seriously affecting the implementation of NREGS and is breeding corruption as well .
Appointment of Ombudsman:
The appointments are to be made by State Governments on recommendation of Selection Committee comprising Chief Secretary of the State (Chairperson), Representative of Union Ministry of Rural Development, eminent
Civil Society Person nominated by Union Ministry of Rural Development and Secretary of Department dealing with MGNREGS. Persons of eminent standing and impeccable integrity up to 65 years of age with at least twenty years experience in public administration, law, academics, social work or management will be eligible. His tenure is 2 years extendable by one year on satisfactory performance or up to 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. There is no reappointment under this programme. The Ombudsman is independent of State and Central Governments. The job of the Ombudsman is to receive complaints from MGNREGA workers and others on specified matters, consider such complaints and facilitate their disposal in accordance with law.Require the MG NREGA Authority complained against to provide any information or furnish certified copies of any document relating to the complaint. Ombudsman can issue direction for conducting spot investigation, lodge FIRs against the erring parties, initiate Suomoto proceedings. He has powers for direct redressal, disciplinary and punitive actions as well. The Ombudsman reports his findings to the Chief Secretary of the State for appropriate action against erring persons.
Conclusion :
Rural Development Department (RDD) receives huge chunk of funds every years under NREGS, Indira Awaas Yojna (IAY) and now under Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM) as well . It is reported that in every Rural development Block , the funds are being misused from a panchayat member to Block Development Officer (BDO). I have been following several cases wherein money meant for construction of houses under IAY where never utilized. I have obtained these details under RTI Act many years back , but except a few cases, no action has been taken by the authorities. After our sustained struggle and media campaign the swindled money was recovered in Kutabal and Dreygam villages of Budgam district, but I can say with authority that in 50 to 60 percent of cases, money meant for homeless people has been misappropriated from last more than a decade across J&K. This is a big scam which needs to be probed by the newly constituted committee. I have proof that in majority of cases the money provided to IAY beneficiaries was not at all utilized and fake photographs of newly constructed one room houses were submitted by the beneficiaries to BDO offices. All this is being facilitated by Panchayat Secretaries, Sarpanches and BDO’s who are beneficiaries of the bribe money. Same is the case with NREGS works, fake bills have been drawn against works which never have been executed. In addition to it money has been shown transferred to beneficiaries for construction of Lavatories under Swatch Bharat Mission (SBM), but in hundreds of cases these lavatories exist only on papers. The State Vigilance & Monitoring Committee must initiate probe into all these scams and must reach out to people if not at block level but at least at district level in the coming days.
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel