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| Creation of 659 new administrative units | | J&K Govt's administrative aptitude comes under question, state on brink of financial crisis | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Feb 2: Seeking to undo anti-incumbency across the state especially in Kashmir valley before the upcoming elections, the much hyped creation of 659 new administrative units by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raised questions over the administrative aptitude of the ruling class in Jammu and Kashmir.
None knows better about the financial health of state than the man occupying highest seat of power yet a decision was taken to create administrative units and that too beyond the recommendations of a committee which had already submitted its report to the state government. The voluminous report of Mushtaq Ganai committee, a man whom Congress accuse of being close to National Conference (NC), was thrown to the dustbin and another report based on the assumptions and presumptions of the Congress and NC legislators was prepared overnight and accepted.
Such was the urgency that Omar Abdullah issued a veiled threat via PTI, NDTV and CNNIBN to resign (though for the third times) if the high command of Congress did not intervene. They heard him loud and clear through the media and overnight, the dust settled. A suffocated Jammu and Kashmir Congress, which has been anxiously waiting for the alliance to come to an end, was told to desist from annoying, an already angered Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
They obliged but not without recommending administrative units as per their choice and convenience. Mathematics, Sociology, Geography and History were all put on the backburner and an Arvind Kejriwal was done to the report recommending new administrative units for the entire state. 659 units were created after a weather hit exercise of just 15 days by legislators, who had no option but to go by what their electorate eagerly wanted from them.
Now, the report has been sent to the planning and finance department to see how it could be implemented. But observers and economists are of the opinion that Omar's stubborn attitude vis-à-vis the creation of new administrative units has resulted in state being put virtually on a 'ventilator'. Implementation of CSC recommendations would have financial implications of Rs 1510.22 crores including Rs 255.51 crores as revenue expenditure and Rs 1254.71 crores as capital expenditure.
The sub divisions (46) would entail an expenditure of Rs 143.52 crores, tehsils (135) Rs 507.60 crores, CD blocks (177) Rs 500.91 crores and Niabats (301) Rs 358.19 crores. The new units would require 10,521 staff members including 358 gazetted officers and 10,163 non gazetted officials. If the pace at which state has moved during the last five years is taken into account, this expenditure is likely to go over and above Rs. 6000 crores. Salaries would take this state close to disaster.
PSC would be forced to devise a scheme on the pattern of SSRB wherein even gazetted officers would be paid a fixed amount ranging between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 for serving in these newly created administrative units. Omar would have done himself a favour if he would have resigned immediately after accepting the report of this sub-committee, thereby allowing the Congress to seek an outside partner and force their leadership in New Delhi to devise a package for J&K.
Omar and his advisors as well as admirers are unlikely to accept the financial story of these new administrative units since they are less worried about Omar's youth and more about something they could talk about and say that this is historic and the only other great administrative decision taken by any Chief Minister after Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah's land to the tiller.
So, the aim has been achieved and now, NC can go on talking about Omar Abdullah's historic decision but financial implications are likely to lead to the prolonged delay in the actual creation of these administrative units. But if Omar picks up the debate from here and goes to Delhi with another resignation letter, forcing the Finance Minister of the Country P.Chidambram to announce another Rs. 5000 Crore package for J&K for the implementation of this report, NC would 'party all night'. |
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