ADMINISTRATIVE INERTIA
Imran Muzaffar (Greater Kashmir)
Comptroller and Auditor General pulled up the Social Welfare Department for
failing to implement flagship schemes, both state and centre sponsored, the
department continues to work in a sluggish manner on the vital issue, raising a
question mark over its functioning.
The CAG report after being tabled in the
State Legislative Assembly sometime back had pointed to “financial
mismanagement, non-adherence of eligibility criteria, and lack of monitoring and
proper planning” in the department. The report had said that the department has
completely failed to implement the vital flagship programmes of the Government
of India.
An official source told Greater Kashmir that even after CAG
observations, the “unnecessary retention of huge undisbursed money in bank
accounts and delay in finalizing rates of contract in nutritive items under the
Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) persisted in the department.”
“Non-release of funds continues to affect various vital schemes. This is not
because there are serious technical faults but due to the careless attitude of
authorities and their little concern for implementation of the schemes. Since
CAG has also taken note of it, the National Social Assistance Programme is still
to be implemented due to the non-release of funds,” he said.
The source said
the department was yet to implement Contributory Security Scheme as well. “The
scheme is aimed to benefit marginal workers in the age group of 20-50. But
despite the CAG castigating the department over the failure to implement it, the
scheme is yet to be formally launched.”
The CAG had also pulled up the
department for not spending the huge unspent balance on the schemes. “The report
had taken note that at the end of each financial year crores of rupees remain
unspent in the accounts which are otherwise meant for the implementation of
schemes and benefiting the marginal and weaker sections,” the source said.
The CAG report had, pertinently, said: “The supplementary nutrition under
the ICDS was not provided to all beneficiaries from 2005-09 and shortfall ranged
between 7 to 40 per cent. The health check-up and other referral services were
not provided to deserving at all.”
The source said funds worth crores of
rupees under another key scheme-‘Scheme for Empowerment of Skilled Women’- has
been unspent, with the department putting tough procedure for applicants. The
State Cabinet had in 2010 accorded sanction to the Scheme vide order No. 05-SW
of 2010 dated 08-01-2010.
“The Scheme was aimed to grant loan to skilled women
so that they may venture out for their concerned businesses. But the procedure
for sanctioning of the loan was made so tough for the applicants that they
backed out halfway,” he said.
Despite repeated attempts, the Director and
Secretary, Social Welfare Department, were not available for
comments.