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| Will Drabu reduce State's administrative expences? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 2: During a public lecture last year Omar Abdullah while he was Chief Minister of J&K had said that his Government would not hesitate emptying state coffers for public good . Omar Abdullah must be congratulated for fulfilling his promise of emptying the state coffers and treasuries just before the recent state assembly election results. The state has now reached the threshold of economic crises as many government employees are without salaries right from December 2014 and bills worth hundreds of crores are pending in various treasuries of the state as a result of which government contractors, suppliers and others continue to suffer.
After the NC's debacle in the 2014 parliamentary elections, Omar took some challenging and over enthusiastic steps without caring for its future outcome. Some steps he took were indeed pro-people and in favour of government employees like enhancement of the retirement age from 58 to 60 years, revoking of the job policy launched by the same government only a few years back, increasing upper age limit by three years (from 37 to 40 years) for getting into Government service and giving a special benefit to Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers wherein their 5 years of their ReT service would be counted in their regular service. Everyone knew during that time that Omar Government took all those steps for political benefits just to ensure his party's success in the 2014 assembly elections which didn't happen at all . The demands of employees, unemployed youth, ReTs were very much genuine but had previous government enough resources to bear its financial implications ?
Challenge before Mufti: Under the existing financial crises the Mufti lead PDP-BJP coalition Government has now landed in trouble and the situation could further worsen if some special economic package is not provided by the central Government. The delay on part of Government of India to release the annual plan 2014-15, is the main impediment being faced by state government and that is the reason Government employees and other stake holders like contractors , Government suppliers etc are at the verge of starvation due to non clearance of their pending bills in Government treasuries. Even the beneficiaries under MG-NREGA and Indira Awaas Yojna (IAY) are being made to wait for many months now as they have not been disbursed requisite money by the authorities at the helm of affairs. Earlier Governor N N Vohra had a round of meeting with top brass of NITI Aayog in New Delhi but as the Governor rule came to end by February end further parleys could not be held. Now it is PDP-BJP Government which has to make things go and put its case before the Aayog. A separate financial package for flood relief victims has to be one of the top agendas of the Government.
The State Government had proposed a plan for year 2014-15 that amounts to Rs 11,900 crores as against Rs 8000 crores proposed during 2013-14 out of which Rs 7300 crores were released by the Government of India through the Planning Commission now known as NITI Aayog. If the proposed plan of Rs 11,900 Crores is okayed by the Modi Government which was not done during Omar Abdullah's tenure as CM , PDP lead Government can have a sigh of relief. If it is not okayed within a short span of time J&K state will have serious economic crises. As there is change of guard in J&K now , I am sure that BJP lead NDA Government will not seek much explanation from State Government about the utilization of Rs 7300 crores which was provided to J&K during the financial year 2013 -14 and the advantage for PDP-lad Government in J&K is that it is in coalition with BJP in our state and is not accountable for the decisions taken during NC - Congress coalition Government.
Even if the details of utilization are sought from the state authorities it must not hamper the developmental works etc in state. Pertinent to mention that state Government had spent more than 70 % of the main budget (2013-14) on salaries, and other administrative expenses. Had the previous Government at least reduced the administrative expenses by 10 to 20 % during the last financial year and diverted the said funds towards building up various institutions in the state, it would have now helped the State Government to motivate the Planning Commission (NITI Aayog) to akay its current plan outlay of Rs 11,900 Crores. Under all these circumstances it would be a uphill struggle before the new Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed to take out state out of these financial crises. The newly appointed Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Darbu who is also a well known economist has to sincerely meet this challenge and it is advised that Dr Drabu should ensure reduction of state's administrative expenses by at least 10 to 20 % and to make this happen Government has to take a tough stand on ending the VIP culture in state which is one of the important financial burdens on state vis a vis administrative expences. |
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