Other deptts to shortly devolve functions, functionaries
Much-awaited implementation of 74th Amendment begins
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 12: In a step towards much-awaited implementation of 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India, the Government of Union Territory has transferred over 570 roads along with two divisions of the Roads and Buildings Department, 108 schools and 53 Health Sub-Centres to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations.
The other key departments like Social Welfare, Forest, Environment and Ecology, Jal Shakti and Floriculture, Gardens and Parks are also in the process of devolving the functions, functionaries and resources within the municipal limits of Jammu and Srinagar districts to these Corporations and the exercise will be completed shortly.
EXCELSIOR in its edition dated October 15, 2020 had exclusively reported that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has issued directions for devolution of functions, functionaries and resources of seven key departments to the Urban Local Bodies in order to start implementation of 74th Amendment of Constitution of India.
Acting on the directives of the Lieutenant Governor, the Principal Secretary to the Government, R&B Department has accorded sanction to the transfer of 213 roads falling under the municipal limits of district Jammu having width below 5.5 metres to the Jammu Municipal Corporation.
Similarly, 365 roads in the municipal limits of Srinagar district have been transferred to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Moreover, the Government has accorded sanction to the transfer of Tawi Bridge-cum-Medical College Division Jammu to the Jammu Municipal Corporation and City Roads Division Srinagar to Srinagar Municipal Corporation respectively along with the posts.
“The transfer of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) grants for the year 2020-21 allocated under Revenue and Capital grants will be considered by the Finance Department from the financial year 2021-22 to both the Corporations”, the order said, adding “salary grant/revenue budget will be transferred to Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations by the Finance Department in proportion to respective strength of transferred R&B divisions”.
A total of 165 posts of the R&B Department in the Tawi Bridge-cum-Medical College Division Jammu and City Roads Division Srinagar have also been transferred to the Municipal Corporations. However, Roads and Buildings Department will continue to be the cadre controlling authority and the staff transferred to the Municipal Corporations will be considered as on deputation.
Similarly, the School Education Department has transferred 108 Government schools along with posts, functions and funds to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations under 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.
“Sanction is accorded to transfer of 108 standalone Primary Schools within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Municipal Corporation along with transfer of all assets, posts/staff and funds to these Corporations and deployment of 265 primary school teachers”, read the order issued by Administrative Secretary of School Education Department.
Moreover, two posts of the Chief Education Officers—one each in JMC and SMC on deputation basis are also transferred. The staff in these schools will be posted by School Education Department on deputation basis and cadre control of the staff so deputed to be maintained by the department.
The Health Department has already transferred 53 Health Sub-Centres—37 in Srinagar and 16 in Jammu along with assets, posts and staff to the Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations as part of the Government’s decision to implement 74th Amendment.
The staff in these Health Sub-Centers will be posted by the Health Services Department Jammu/Kashmir and Family Welfare Department and Immunization Department on deputation basis. However, the cadre control of the staff so deputed will be maintained by the Health Services Department, which shall also open a separate budget head for transfer of Capex/Opex funds to the Urban Local Bodies.
Moreover, separate Electric Maintenance Divisions for the Jammu Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Municipal Corporation have been created as per the decision taken by the Administrative Council in its meeting held on February 27, 2020.
This has been done to ensure that street lighting functions are monitored only by the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations.
“The other departments—Social Welfare, Forest, Environment and Ecology, Jal Shakti and Floriculture, Gardens and Parks are also in the process of devolving the functions, functionaries and resources within the municipal limits of Jammu and Srinagar districts to these Corporations and the exercise will be completed shortly”, sources informed.
In the initial phase, wings/divisions of only seven key Government departments are being considered for transfer to these grass root level democratic institutions so that they are empowered as per the provisions of the Constitution of India.
It is pertinent to mention here that from time to time funds, functions and functionaries of several departments were devolved to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as per the provisions of 73rd Amendment but the Urban Local Bodies were crying for implementation of 74th Constitutional Amendment.
It is only after the bifurcation of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories that 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments actually received due attention.
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