*SSRB, PSC yet to be approached for fresh recruitments
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 25: Though the Government is repeatedly boasting of creating large number of administrative units with one stroke of the pen, it has yet not found any consistent source from which whopping funds to the tune of Rs 1140 crore would come for the creation of permanent infrastructure for these units. Moreover, it has not approached the recruiting agencies for beginning the process of fresh recruitments despite being aware of the fact that such an exercise takes long time.
Prior to the creation of new administrative units vide Government Order No.Rev (S) 169 dated July 18, 2014, there were 21 Sub-Divisions, 82 Tehsils and 257 Niabats and all were fully functional. However, the present Government with the one stroke of pen created 135 Tehsils, 46 Sub-Divisions and 301 Niabats. Moreover, it has decided to make all Patwar Halqas co-terminus with the existing Panchayat Halqas for which the Deputy Commissioners have already been asked to furnish requisite proposal.
For making these units operational, the Government had constituted a high-power committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary and the committee has come to the conclusion that an amount of Rs 1140.21 crore would be required for the creation of permanent infrastructure and nearly Rs 105 crore would be needed only on account of salaries and other office expenses annually.
Though for the recurring revenue expenditure the Government, in response to the question of People’s Democratic Party MLA from Darhal, Ch Zulfikar Ali in the Legislative Assembly today, claimed to have arranged necessary funds, about the creation of permanent infrastructure for these large number of administrative units, it has not stated clearly as to what would be the source of funding for the creation of permanent infrastructure.
Stating that State Government is groping in dark on source of funding Rs 1140.21 crore requirement, sources said, “although State has projected this requirement before the 14th Finance Commission but there are grim chances of Finance Commission agreeing to provide such a whopping assistance”. “In all probability the Finance Commission may fund some of the components instead of wholly conceding the demand of the State Government”, sources added.
“Even State Government is not sure of 100% assistance from the Finance Commission in this regard and the same is evident from the fact that it is planning to keep this provision in the Annual Plan of 2015-16 financial year”, they informed, adding “again there are apprehensions about Union Finance Ministry agreeing for this provision on various grounds including the justification behind going in for opening such a large number of administrative units in one go”.
In such a situation when will these large number of administrative units get permanent infrastructure remains a million dollar question before the Government, which is otherwise boasting of creating such a large number of administrative units with the one stroke of the open and for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the sources, the Government has not even approached the recruiting agencies—Public Service Commission and Services Selection Recruitment Board for fresh recruitment against the posts created for the newly established administrative units. “This is notwithstanding the fact that fresh recruitments is a long drawn process and consume much time”, they added.
Revenue Department has projected around 3500 fresh recruitments for the gazetted as well as non-gazetted posts while as Rural Development Department requires 1200 fresh manpower to ensure smooth functioning of newly created administrative units albeit in the rented accommodations.
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