Food for Thought

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing his best for the development of the country. He does what he says. However, is that enough for the development of the country? A Prime Minister may be a good planner and a good strategist, besides being a farsighted one. However, for proper implementation of the well-thought-out plans and strategies he/she needs equally good and pragmatic governments in the States.

The Centre keeps pumping in funds for various Centrally-sponsored schemes to the States like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand Up India Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojona (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and many others.

However, even after the release of funds from the Centre, development is simply not happening in Assam. A telltale proof: Various departments in the State are not being able to submit fund utilization certificates (UCs) against various Central schemes, leading to the blockage of further release of funds.

The case is no different when it comes to the State government schemes. It has come to light that most of the Deputy Commissioners of Assam have not been able to submit on time the UCs of funds released for various schemes under the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) funds. That the respective DCs have not been able to submit UCs on time is certainly indicative of the fact that the schemes undertaken are either not completed on time or the funds have not been used properly.

Making development happen is possible only when each and every link in this chain of responsibilities from the top to the bottom is strong and just. They say a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. Will those at the helm of affairs in Assam correct the wrong being done for years?

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