Andhra Pradesh

Change in Government approach poses challenge to officials

By W.Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, DEC. 5. The Chief Minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy's emphasis at the District Collectors' conference on a "people-centric but not statistic-centric" approach to development poses a challenge to the bureaucracy in reshaping micro-planning.

Infrastructure creation in various sectors, neglected over a long period as in land development and moisture conservation, demands an innovative approach rather than strict adherence to rules, officials admit.

The District Collectors have already been asked to get their information right and find out the exact status of wage employment.

Comprehensive approach

Important programmes like land allocation and development along with National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP) need a comprehensive approach as none of these can effectively be implemented in isolation.

While identification of works can be done in the panchayats through consultation within the community, it is, however, not a practice adopted in the SC and ST localities.

Dr.Reddy is keen to know whether two gram sabhas could be held for greater benefit of the poorest of the poor to spread the benefit.

Another aspect that the administration has been asked to look into is whether allocation of the works could be made panchayat-wise?

What to do in case of works like roads and irrigation systems that cover more panchayats in deciding on the allocation of funds?

One more task given to them is to create a master register of all the works identified, prioritized, and kept for public scrutiny to avoid any charges of corruption. Unless this is done properly, the Government is bound to take the stick.

Micro planning should begin with the identification of the works, while prioritization needs a careful assessment of the needs, officials realise as the emphasis is on people-friendly governance now.

Emphasis is being laid on the NFFWP as it is enmeshed in several non-negotiables like administrative sanction for every work and compulsory estimates. There is also a condition that advance intimation must be made to the people on the number of wage days available to them. The success of the programme depends on whether there is an effective mechanism for monitoring and supervising the works in every village.

Moot question

The administration has admitted to the Chief Minister that here they had gone wrong in implementing the earlier Food for Work Programme on this count that gave room to charges of corruption.

Is it possible to assure 30 days of wage employment to every family and supply 50 kg of rice plus Rs.100 every month without any hiccups?

That is the bottom-line given to the Collectors whether be it Food Assurance Programme or NFFWP. The latter is to be implemented in Adilabad, Mahaboobnagar, Ranga Reddy, Khammam, Warangal, Nalgonda, Anantapur and Cuddapah. In all, 1.25 tonnes of grains and Rs.127 crores have been earmarked for the same.

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