Devolution of power and democratization of institutions is much talked about in political and official circles. But it is easy said than done. Essentially what matters is the understanding of responsibility and duty and implementation of a decision when taken after due consultation and appraisal. This is to be said in the light of the net result from the Cabinet-cum-District Development Board meetings held from time to time. The essence of DDB meetings is to assess on spot the needs of the districts through interaction with the officials, peoples’ representatives and representatives of policy planning and decision making bodies. The focus of these meetings is to promote all round development of the district within a time frame. The idea behind holding such DDB meetings has been of great benefit to the State and much has been achieved in the realm of development so far.
However, a review of the performance of concerned quarters in regard to the implementation of decisions of Cabinet-cum-District Development Boards during last three years does not give a very encouraging picture. Decisions are taken in these meetings and works are identified which have to be completed and for which funds are also sanction out of developmental plans. For the financial year 2010-11, the DDB approved a total of 245 decisions for implementation in different districts. Only 172 decisions have been implemented and the remaining 73 are hanging fire. For the financial year 2011-12 only 133 out of 194 decisions could be implemented leaving 61 of them unresolved. During the current financial year till date out of 51 decisions only 20 have been implemented.
These decisions were taken in consultation with the concerned MLAs and MLCs. Their non-implementation leaves the people concerned in a confusing situation. Some of the decisions are vital and could not be delayed. They relate to road connectivity, power and water supply and other infrastructures necessary for day to day life. A serious analysis of this situation reveals that the main reason for tardy implementation of vital decisions is lack of cohesion and cooperation among various departments involved in the process. The DDB meetings could have been the venue where all concerned departments would meet and act in unison on the decisions taken. The ground situation is contrary to our expectations. It is the duty of the Government to forge cohesion among the departments for implementation of these decisions failing which the entire process of development and devolution of powers becomes fractured. Implementation of majority decisions is the business of the Administrative Department but that can happen only when sanction is accorded at the level of the Secretariat. Thus it seems there is something like diarchy at work in the realm of implementation. The Government will need to remove this bottleneck so that the path is smooth for speedy implementation of the decisions.
Incidentally, it has to be noted that the Government had decided to constitute a committee with membership drawn from various departments involved with these decisions which would monitor the progress made during given fiscal years. According to available reports the committee was formed in May last and was expected to submit the review of implementation of decisions within three months. No such report has been submitted so far and whether the committee met or not is not clear.
It has to be recalled that the decisions on developmental activities taken in the Cabinet-cum-DDBs form the corner stone of overall development of the State. These are vital to overall progress of the State. No slackness in implementation of its decisions will be acceptable because the people have become highly conscious of all round development of their districts and areas. The review committee constituted by the government should function properly and deliver the goods failing which there seems little sense in having these committees that are dysfunctional.
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