Expressing serious concern over non-implementation of decisions taken in District Development Board (DDB) meetings across the State, senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that in absence of a political will these meetings have lost meaning and have been virtually turned into a ritual.In a statement issued here today, the CPI (M) leader said there is no doubt that most of the times many important decisions vis-à-vis development of the districts are taken in these meetings but lack of a proper follow-up restricts these decisions to mere paper work.Referring to the decisions taken in the DDB meetings in 2015 across the State held under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister, Tarigami said that the action taken report on these decisions is quite disappointing.
He said many important decisions taken in the Board meetings are not implemented and that is why the developmental schemes do not reach to the people on ground.The CPI (M) leader said the district plan allocations have not been increased as has been sought by the members of Legislative Assembly from time to time. He said though the allocation under state plan may have been increased to a certain level, no significant increment has been made in district plans.Stating that the District Development Boards were set-up under the concept of the single line administration as the decentralization has a pivotal position in the structure of governance, the CPI (M) leader said it is unfortunate that district allocations are so insignificant that these important institutions have been rendered futile.
“One fails to understand that what the members of these boards are supposed to decide about when the allocations are so meager and the decisions taken are not implemented,” he asked.The CPI (M) leader observed that plans placed before the Boards with tremendous hike in allocations are not actually meant for developmental works. The major portion of these allocations being the central share for flagship programmes like SSA,RMSA, Mid-Day Meals, Nutrition with meager allocations to major sectors like R&B, PHE, Irrigation, Elementary/Secondary education, agriculture & allied activities etc.
“Instead of empowering these institutions by way of giving adequate powers and keeping sufficient funds at their disposal, the successive Governments preferred to ignore the decisions taken by these boards”, he regretted, adding “keeping this in view the new dispensation should either strengthen these institutions or wind them up permanently”.He also demanded establishment of Councils on the pattern of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Leh and Kargil and said, “this step would go a long way in meeting the developmental aspirations of the districts particularly those having hilly and tough terrain”.