*No adherence to 14th FC guidelines since last yr
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 9: Notwithstanding the lofty slogans about involving grass root level democratic institutions in changing the developmental profile of the State, Jammu and Kashmir has failed to utilize Rs 186 crore released by the Union Government during the previous financial year for carrying out developmental activities at Panchayat Halqa level by involving the Gram Sabhas.
Moreover, uncertainty is still prevailing over the utilization of this amount even during the current financial year as Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) for large number of Panchayats are yet to be formulated by the field functionaries of the Rural Development Department in consultation with the Gram Sabhas comprising of electorates of the concerned Panchayat.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that under the 14th Finance Commission Award an opportunity has been created for responsive local governance at the cutting edge institutional level of the Gram Panchayat. The guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Finance for the release and utilization of grant stipulate that proper Development Plans are to be prepared by the Gram Panchayats for the basic services within the functions devolved to them as per the State laws.
As per the guidelines, the Gram Panchayat Development Plans have to be participatory plans involving the community particularly the Gram Sabhas in the formulation of priorities and projects. Moreover, these Development Plans are required to ensure the mandates of social justice and economic development.
In order to ensure early availing of funds under the 14th Finance Commission Award, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj helped Jammu and Kashmir and other States in making State-specific guidelines for development and implementation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans, sources said. Accordingly, the Union Government released first installment of Rs 186 crore to J&K for carrying out developmental activities at Panchayat Halqa level by involving the Gram Sabhas.
However, very few Panchayats came out with the Development Plans during the last financial year because of the slackness on the part of elected Sarpanchs and Panchs and lack of supervision from the concerned officers of the Rural Development Department, sources said, adding in the absence of GPDPs, the entire amount remained unspent and people remained deprived of the developmental activities, which could have been carried out by making use of such a huge amount.
At the start of current financial year, the field functionaries of Rural Development Department were repeatedly directed by the Government to closely work with the Sarpanchs and Panchs and ensure formulation of the GPDPs, sources said, adding even funds were placed at the disposal of the Panchayats with the stipulation to utilize strictly for the works to be reflected in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan.
Before all the 4198 Gram Panchayats in State— 1964 in Jammu and 2234 in Kashmir come up with their respective GPDP, the Sarpanchs and Panchs ceased to exist on completion of five years terms on July 14, 2016 and accordingly the Government issued a notification for dissolution of Panchayats and conferred the powers of Panchayati Raj Institutions on the Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Panchayat Secretaries.
However, the slackness in formulation of GPDPs by the BDOs in consultation with the Gram Sabhas continued as a result of which entire amount of Rs 186 crore has remained unutilized even today, sources said while disclosing that 30% Panchayats in Jammu region have yet not formulated Gram Panchayat Development Plan while as the same in respect of Baramulla, Shopian, Kupwara and Anantnag districts in Kashmir valley are still awaited.
“The Assistant Commissioners of Development (ACDs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), District Panchayat Officers (DPOs), Panchayat Secretaries and Village Level Workers (VLWs) all are responsible for non-utilization of first installment of 14th Finance Commission Award for developmental activities at Panchayat Halqa level as they have failed to work in coordination to ensure formulation of Development Plans”, sources said.
They further said, “uncertainty is still prevailing over the utilization of entire amount of Rs 186 crore even during the current financial year as Development Plans of such a large number of Panchayats are yet to be formulated”, adding “the inordinate delay in formulation of GPDP is notwithstanding the fact that regular funding under all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes especially MGNREGA entails conduct of regular Gram Sabha meetings for approval of works and budgets”.
When contacted, Director Panchayats in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, R K Bhat confirmed that Rs 186 crore grant under 14th Finance Commission Award is yet to be utilized for want of Gram Panchayat Development Plans. “We are hopeful of receiving the GPDPs from rest of the Panchayats in the days to come and thereafter utilization of grant would begin”, he said while disclosing that Minister for Rural Development, Abdul Haq Khan has already taken serious note of it and passed necessary directions to the field functionaries of the Rural Development Department.
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