The State Government has failed to learn that delegating rights is one thing following it in letter and spirit is another. While the earlier one is important to enable governance at grassroot level the later is necessary to make governance visible.
Rights delegated by the State Government might have trickled down to the panchayats, however, several bottlenecks in the way has defeated the purpose of it. The representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are facing resistance from the institutions that were supposed to facilitate exercise of rights given to them.
“There is no coordination between Block Development Officer and Mukhiyas. Sometimes BDOs do not consult representatives on social sector schemes,” said Kalabati Devi, Mukhiya of Dohakatu, Ramagarh.
Besides BDOs, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) are also accused of not taking part in important meetings conducted at the panchayat and block levels. Even the complains against erring CDPOs fall on deaf ears. “CDPOs usually abstain from review meeting which makes it difficult to assess performance of any scheme,” added Devi.
Absence of Junior Engineers (JEs) at block level impacts development works as the lack of JEs has to be compensated with engineers working in other departments. “JEs who work for a particular department never take other department’s work seriously,” said G Soren, member of Pakur District Council.
Blame it on lethargy of officials, Pakur is still waiting for a comprehensive district plan. “Funds are lying unutilised for lack of a plan and officials seem not interested in making any,” said Soren.
The elected representatives sometimes are as helpless as the people they are supposed to take care of.
The Mukhiya of Manjhgaon alleged irregularity in the old age pension scheme and criticised officials for leaving many genuine beneficiaries out of the scheme.
“Many old women do not get old age pension they are entitled for. Despite repeated requests the officials do not listen to us,” said lalita Balmuchu, the Mukhiya of Manjhgaon.
Significantly, the institutional apathy runs across schemes such as less number of beneficiaries registered under BPl, poor status of housing to beneficiaries under Indira Awaas Yojna.
“Unless the BPl list is updated with actual data the benefits will never reach to many deserving people,” added Balmuchu.