The Prime Minister Rural Development Fellows (PMRDF) working at the ground zero, posted in various districts in Jharkhand, feel that the rural areas desperately need development as schemes run by the Government do not reach the actual beneficiaries entitled for them. They also stressed on the need for capacity-building of the human resource available with the government for better results.
The PMRD fellows, however, claimed that their job is quite satisfying and will consider to have achieved the target if they could improve the conditions of the common man even by 2-5 per cent. They also admitted that they never had to face any Naxal-related problems while working in interiors of the State.
“It must be ensured that the schemes started at the district level must reach to the block level. And if it reaches the block level, a handful of powerful people should not get hold of it,” said a PMRD Fellow requesting anonymity. And if the benefits do not reach the common man, it creates a notion among them that the Government is not doing anything, he added.
Although Public Distribution System is being implemented very well in the remote areas, the idea of BPl card is creating confusion and a sense of discrimination among the villagers. Shortage of Government officials in the remote areas also badly hampers the developmental work.
According to another PMRD fellow, capacity-building of the human resource available with the government is not being done hence the progress is very slow in the interiors of the state. “Moreover, panchayat representatives are still confused over their role actual responsibilities among the people,” said PMRDF Shweta presently posted in Ramgarh. They, however, denied having faced any problem working in the remote areas due to the threat held out by left wing extremists in the State. The PMRD Fellows also claimed that they move in the interiors on motor bikes without any fear.
“I never faced any problem in working even in the Naxal affected areas also as I personally believe that if you do not trouble them they will also not disturb you,” said another fellow. Rather villagers sometimes share with them which they generally hesitate to share at the open platform,” he added. Despite all, the PMRD fellows currently engaged in implementing various rural development schemes in the districts have been able to support administration in an efficient way, but somewhere they lack a sense of authority as being officially engaged as a resource person.
“Unlike any other Government official, there is always a sense of command which is lacking among the PMRD Fellows and they always need support from the Deputy Commissioners posted in the district,” said Khunti DC Mukesh Kumar. “Despite all odds, they have always been a good support for us and do not hesitate to take new challenges,” added the DC.
They have also been able to bridge the gap between the Panchayati Raj Institutions and administration a very competent way, he added. The PMRD Fellows, as resource persons, have been currently engaged in giving innovative solutions to the problems which arise during the implementation of the various developmental programmes of the Government. They have been engaged in action plans, skill development projects, Adhaar enabled payment schemes as well as documentation of the various integrated developmental projects in the districts.
PMRD fellows, on the other hand, are still in the process of understanding programmes run by the Government and seek more time to efficiently deliver what they are have been assigned to. "Gradually, everything is getting streamlined and we are able to understand things at the ground level," said Rajiv Ranjan, a fellow posted in West Singhbhum. "Three years' time is not enough to understand the things and get results; we will be able to deliver in a better way if given more time in a district because it takes some time to get results after execution of any innovative idea," added Ranjan.
According to Ranjan, there are certain loopholes in the system, which are to be understood and find solution for that. By the time you start getting expecting results, it will be time to leave the place, Ranjan said. He believed that they must be given at least a time of five to six years in a district.
Sheela Matang posted at Khunti, also said that they are getting adequate support from the administration and are being given larger responsibilities. "We have been assigned to give out of the way solution as we do not have a pre-conceived notion against anybody," said Matang. PMRD Fellows have to play a role of catalyst here without making the system dependent on us, added Matang.
West Singhbhum DC Abu-Bakr Siddiqui also observed that the PMRD Fellows are meant to visit, monitor and give suggestive feed backs about the National Developmental programmes and act as a missing links between the administration and the implementation agencies of various national development programmes."Being professionally trained people, it depends on the administration how to use them. Barring some technical issues like their mobility and all they are doing well," said the DC.
Jharkhand has 31 PMRDFs in the two batches appointed in all districts covered by integrated action plan (IAP), two in each, barring Chatra andWest Singhbhum. The Fellows have been playing an active role in ensuring UID registration camps in villages, facilitating and mediating as well. "After getting encouraging feedback about these PMRDFs the central government is thinking of increasing their number in the state," said SIRD Director RP Singh.