I feel one primary reason for funds meant for devpt programmes going back to the centre unutilised is the lack of knowledge about the various schemes by the public at large.The reluctance of state level politiciansto recognise the importance of the lower levels of governance,govt officials' preference to work with the 'distance control mechanism of the state, and low level of democratic consciousness in most of the state are some of the inhibiting factors.It is important to realise the potentials of participatory approch in local governance,rural devpt and other community-based approches to solve socio-economic problems.Enabling frameworks at the grassroot levels are critical for the success of any devpt programme.
In this regard I am of the opinion that re-orienting existing systems to deliver results is a better option than trying to set up totally new delivery systems. It is a known fact that every february the Union Finance Minister presents the annual budget wherein he spells out the various govt schemes and state-wise allocations .Many schemes pertaining to rural devpt,social upliftment,women & child devpt etc are meant to be implemented through registered N.G.Os& SELF HELP GROUPS. Most people in the North-east are unaware of these schemes and even if they have some knowledge are clueless as to how to go about availing the benefits. It is here that an institutionalised procedure needs to be put in place. Information restricted to a select few breeds corruption and inefficiency.The state-govt machinery has to play a very pro-active role in information-dissemination and help organisations prepare proposals.The Block Developement Officer has to be made the nodal officer for this purpose and each District Commissioner should be given a target that every B.D.O has to educate the people in his block about these schemes,encourage well-meaning people to form N.G.O if not already formed,help them with the necessary formalities, help them prepare proper project reports.get necessary documents/approvals and forward the same to the District authorities for further action. The D.C in turn should complete all scrutiny within stipulated time and forward the same to the state secretariat who again need to speedily send the same to concerned Ministry in delhi. Again, the OFFICE OF THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER IN DELHI can be made to play a very important role in first collecting all information about various schemes from the different ministries,sending them across to the state authorities sometime in April itself and later when the proposals are sent by the state govt for consideration by the central ministries this office can regularly coordinate and monitor the progress.A bottoms up approach is the need of the hour and rather than govt officers waiting for people to approach them with proposals the govt officer should be made to go to the people with the schemes. Well-meaning Assamese located in Delhi and having contacts in the Govt can also collect such information and help in disseminating the information but such efforts, no doubt laudable,can never be a substitute for an institutionalised mechanism. The media can also play a very important role. Regards, Sailaj Ray Baruah Re: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/assamonline/message/3844
