*501 units still reeling under manpower, other constraints
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 1: Indicating that there was no proper follow-up after the much-talked about Cabinet decision of 2014, 158 administrative units in different parts of the State have yet not been operationalized as a result of which the aspirations of the people have remained unfulfilled during the past nearly two years. Moreover, 501 units, which have been set-up in temporary infrastructure, are still reeling under manpower and other constraints thereby hampering their functioning.
After a detailed exercise spread over very long period of time, the then National Conference-Congress Coalition Government in the year 2014 arrived at a decision about creation of 659 new administrative units.
Accordingly, the State Cabinet vide Decision No.128/11/2014 dated July 16, 2014 put seal of approval on creation of 659 administrative units—46 Sub-Divisions, 135 Tehsils, 301 Niabats under the control of Revenue Department and 177 blocks under the control of Rural Development Department. Thereafter, these two departments formally issued their respective orders for setting-up of these units in the identified places.
However, despite lapse of nearly two years, 158 out of 659 administrative units are yet to be operationalized by the respective departments thereby defeating the purpose behind their being sanctioned by the highest decision making body of the State, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“Due to inordinate delay in operationalization of these 158 administrative units grave injustice has been done with the people, who had vociferously projected their demand for such units during the detailed exercise conducted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee”, sources said, adding “in the absence of these units people are compelled to travel long distance to get different services”.
Interestingly, the representatives of people, who too had put sufficient weight behind getting sanctioned these 158 administrative units, have failed to exert pressure on the successive Governments for making them operational, sources further said while disclosing that despite lapse of nearly two years no time-frame has so far been fixed by the authorities concerned for giving practical shape to such a large number of administrative units.
Moreover, 501 administrative units, which were set-up in temporary accommodation both in Government and private sector, are still reeling under acute shortage of manpower as this aspect was also not paid any serious attention till date, sources informed, adding “whatever manpower was deployed in these 501 units was drawn from the old units as a result of which even the old units are presently short of manpower”.
Not only manpower even official vehicles have not been kept at the disposal of heads of majority of these 501 administrative units thereby compelling them either to hire private vehicles or use their personal ones for official works, sources said while informing that hiring of private vehicles is putting necessary burden on the State exchequer.
As far as permanent infrastructure for 501 established administrative units and 158 yet to be operationalized units is concerned, sources said, “the Government is still groping in dark about the source of funding as at least an amount of Rs 1300 crore is required for this task”, adding “during the previous Budget no special funds were earmarked for this important activity and whether the present dispensation would keep a provision in this regard during the Budget for the current financial year is still undecided”.
According to the sources, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has taken note of non-operationalization of 158 administrative units and has directed the Minister for Revenue, Basharat Bukhari to devise a mechanism to make these units functional till such time sufficient resources in terms of manpower and infrastructure are made available.
When contacted, Revenue Minister admitted that 158 units are yet to be operationalized and established ones are facing many constraints. “Hopefully, these units would come up shortly as the department is taking holistic view of the entire issue”, he added.
According to the sources, the then Government while taking decision about establishment of 659 administrative units had not seriously pondered upon the financial aspect despite being aware of the fact that without permanent infrastructure, sufficient manpower and other paraphernalia administrative units cannot function properly.
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