Grassroots

February 2011

e-journal of local bodies

Foreword

Budget 2011-12
Increase of 17% over FY 2011 for Social Sector National Food Security Bill (NFSB) to be introduced in Parliament during the year Wage rate under MGNREGA to be indexed to the Consumer Price Index for Agriculture Labour Remuneration of Anganwadi workers and helpers doubled 40% increase in allocation under SSA

36.4% of total plan allocation in FY2012 Union Budget goes to the Social Sector. That is Rs 1,60,887 crore. An increase of 17% over FY 2011. Between 2004-05 and 2009-10, central plus state social spending has more than doubled from Rs 1.73 lakh crore to Rs 4.46 lakh crore. That is an increase from 5.33% of GDP to 7.23%. Social sector spending of the Government has actually risen faster than GDP. This issue brings you an assortment of news bits and opinion bytes culled out post-budget from the papers as relates to the social sector.

Much of the social sector expenditure gets spent at the grassroots level of villages and towns. Both Union and State Governments stand committed to decentralize governance to PRIs and municipal bodies. Many are doing so in varying degrees. Indian Audit & Accounts Department needs to respond to this new evolving dynamism in public finance. And to the questions of establishment of accountability through audit of that highly sensitive and complex area of public expenditure.

This issue:
Budget 2011-12 Articles From Field Office District Planning 2 12 13 14

Trend in Social Sector expenditure | Source : RBI Website

Decentralised Gov- 17 ernance Implementation of schemes 21

Internal Control, Trans- 29 parency & Vigilance Mechanism

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Budget 2011-12
BudgetAnalysisSocialSector|Moneycontrol.com
SocialSector Thesocialsectorexpenditureisproposedto beincreasedtoRs.1,608.87bnduringFY12an increaseof17%overthepreviousyear.It amountsto36.40%ofthetotalplanallocation. HumanResourceDevelopmentandSocial Justice AnallocationofRs.103.30bnforIntegrated ChildDevelopmentServices. AnallocationmadeforMahatmaGandhi NationalRuralEmploymentGuarantee SchemeamountingtoRs.400bninFY12as comparedtoRs.401bninFY11. AnallocationofRs.29.14bnunderthe SwaranjayantiGramSwarozgarYojana(SGSY) forestablishingmicroenterprisesinrural areas.Atleast50%oftheSwarozgarieswillbe SCs/STs,40%womenand3%disabled.Ithas beendecidedtorestructureSGSYintoNa tionalRural LivelihoodMission(NRLM). TocreateinthecourseoftheyearIndia MicrofinanceEquityFundwithacorpusofRs. 1bnwithSIDBI.Governmentconsidering puttinginplaceappropriateregulatoryframe worktoprotecttheinterestofsmallborrow ers. ToempowerwomenandpromotetheirSelf HelpGroups(SHGs)creationofaWomens SHGsDevelopmentFundwithacorpusofRs. 5bn. Relaxationofexitnormsunderthepension schemeSwavalambanwherebyasubscriber underSwavalambanwillbeallowedtoexitat theageof50yearsinsteadof60yearsora minimumtenureof20yearswhicheveris later.Moreover,proposaltoextendthebene fitofGovernmentcontributionfromthreeto fiveyearsforallsubscribersofSwavalamban whoenrollduringFY11andFY12. UndertheongoingIndiraGandhiNational OldAgePensionSchemeforBPLbeneficiaries, theeligibilityforpensionisproposedtobe reducedfrom65yearsatpresentto60years. Further,forthosewhoare80yearsandabove, thepensionamountisbeingraisedfromRs. 200atpresenttoRs.500permonth. Existingschemeofinterestsubventionof1% onhousingloanfurtherliberalised. AnallocationofRs.5.20bnforIndiraGandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana. TheplanoutlayforWomenandChildDevel opmentisproposedtobeincreasedtoRs. 126.50bninFY12fromRs.110bninFY11. AnallocationofRs.7.50bnforRajivGandhi SchemeforEmpowermentofAdolescentGirls. TheplanoutlayoftheMinistryofSocial JusticeandEmpowermentisproposedtobe enhancedtoRs.53.75bninFY12,markingan increaseof19.40%ascomparedtoFY11. TheplanallocationfortheMinistryofMinor ityAffairsisproposedtobeincreasedtoRs. 28.50bnforFY12fromRs.26bnin FY11.UNIONBUDGET201112:ImpactAnalysis Increasethebudgetallocationforprimitivetribalgroups toRs.2.44bninFY12fromRs.1.85bninFY11. Forthefirsttime,specificallocationsarebeingearmarked towardsScheduledCastesSubplanandTribalSubplan. Education AnallocationofRs.520.57bninFY12foreducation, whichisanincreaseof24%overFY11. Theproposaltoincreasetheplanallocationforschool educationtoRs.389.57bninFY12fromRs.310.36bnin FY11. AnallocationofRs.210bnforSarvaShikshaAbhiyan whichis40%higherthanRs.150bnallocatedinFY11.A revisedCentrallySponsoredSchemeVocationalisationof SecondaryEducationwillbeimplementedfromFY12to improvetheemployabilityoftheyouth. AnallocationofRs.103.80bnforNationalProgramme ofMidDayMealsinschools. AnallocationofRs.52.54bnforUniversityGrantsCom mission;Rs.56.60bnfortechnicaleducation andRs.9.43bnforNationalMissioninEducationthrough information&communicationtechnology. Connectivitytoall1,500institutionsofHigherLearning andResearchthroughopticalfiberbackbonetobepro videdbyMarch,2012. AdditionalRs.5bnproposedtobeprovidedforNational SkillDevelopmentFundduringFY12. IntroduceascholarshipschemeinFY12forneedystu dentsbelongingtotheScheduledCastesandScheduled Tribesstudyinginclassesninthandtenthwhichwould benefitabout40lakhScheduledCasteandScheduled Tribestudents. Rs.500mneachtoupcomingcentresofAligarhMuslim UniversityatMurshidabadinWestBengalandMalappu raminKerala. Rs.1bnasonetimegranttotheKeralaVeterinaryand AnimalSciencesUniversityatPookode,Kerala. Rs.100mneachforsettingupKolkataandAllahabad CentresofMahatmaGandhiAntarrashtriyaHindiVish wavidyalaya,Wardha. Rs.2bnasonetimegranttoIIT,Kharagpur. Rs.200mnforRajivGandhiNationalInstituteofYouth Development,Sriperumbudur,TamilNadu. Rs.200mnforIIM,Kolkata,tosetupitsFinancialRe searchandTradingLaboratory. Rs.2bnforMaulanaAzadEducationFoundation. Rs.100mnforCentreforDevelopmentEconomicsand RatanTataLibrary,DelhiSchoolofEconomics,Delhiand Rs.100mnforMadrasSchoolofEconomics. Health&Sanitation TheplanallocationfortheMinistryofHealthandFamily WelfareisproposedtobeincreasedtoRs.267.60bnin FY12fromRs.223bnforFY11. AnallocationofRs.178.40bnforNationalRuralHealth Mission. TheRashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojanaextendedtocover unorganisedsectorworkersinhazardousminingand associatedindustrieslikeslateandslatepencil,dolomite, micaandasbestosetc. AnallocationofRs.93.50bnforNationalRuralDrinking WaterProgramme. AnallocationofRs.16.50bnforruralsanitation RegionalDevelopment InordertoboostdevelopmentintheNorthEast ernRegionandSpecialCategoryStates,thealloca tionforspecialassistancealmostdoubledtoRs.80 bnforFY12ascomparedtoFY11.Outofthis,Rs.54 bnallocatedasuntiedSpecialCentralAssistance. Togiveaboosttothedevelopmentofbackward regions,theallocationundertheBackwardRegions GrantFundincreasedtoRs.98.90bninFY12from Rs.73bninFY11,anincreaseofover35%. TheGovernmentsspecialsupporttoJammu& KashmirisanchoredinRs.280bnPrimeMinisters ReconstructionPlan.Inaddition,forthecurrent year,aboutRs.80bnhasbeenprovidedforthe Statesdevelopmentneeds. AllocationmadeinFY12tomeettheinfrastruc tureneedsforLadakh(Rs.1bn)andJammuregion (Rs.1bn). FundsallocatedunderIntegratedActionPlan (IAP)foraddressingproblemsrelatedtoLeftWing extremismaffecteddistricts.60selectedTribaland backwarddistrictsprovidedwith100%blockgrant ofRs.250mnandRs.300mnperdistrictduring FY11andFY12respectively. Positive+ Byallocating36.40%ofthetotalplanoutlayforthe socialsectorduringFY12,theGovernmenthas reiterateditsemphasisfortheupliftmentofthe weakersectionsofthecountry.Inordertoen hancefinancialinclusion,adedicatedfundwitha corpusofRs.1bnhavebeencreatedforsmaller MFIsbesides,formingaWomensSelfHelpGroups DevelopmentFundwhichwouldenhancetheem powermentofwomen. TheGovernmenthasextendeditsthrusttowards thedevelopmentofeducationinthebudgetby enhancingtheplanallocationby24%overthe previousbudget.Emphasishasalsobeenlaidon developingvocationaleducationtoimprovethe employabilityoftheyouthinadditiontomaking provisionforNationalSkillDevelopmentFund. TheGovernmenthasalsomadespecialallocation forboostinghighereducationinthecountry.While theseniorcitizens(BPLbeneficiaries)havebeen givenaspecialattentionunderthepension schemes,theRashtriyaSwasthyaBimaYojanahas beenextendedtocoverunorganisedsectorwork ersinhazardousminingandassociatedindustries. TheGovernmenthasalsopaiddueattentionfor furtherdevelopmentofthebackwardregions, allocatingfundsfortheinfrastructureneedsfor LadakhandKashmirbesidesdirectingfundsfor addressingproblemsrelatedtoLeftWingextrem ismaffecteddistricts.Moreover,forthefirsttime, specificallocationshavebeenearmarkedtowards ScheduledCastesSubplanandTribalSubplan. Besides,theGovernmentsfocusondrinkingwater, healthandsanitationisanotherpositiveaspectfor thesocialsectorinthisbudget

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Budgetgivessocialsectorshortshrift|LiveMint|1March2011
Allocationforthesocialsectorinbudget2011has increasedby17%,butsomesectorexecutives, particularlyinhealthcare,saythefinanceminister hasgiventhemtheshortshrift. PranabMukherjeeallocatedRs160,887crore,or 36.4%oftotalPlanallocation,tothesocialsector. Ofthis,theBharatNirmangroupofwelfare schemes,includingthePradhanMantriGramSadak Yojana,AcceleratedIrrigationBenefitProgramme, RajivGandhiGrameenVidyutikaranYojana,Indira AwasYojana,NationalRuralDrinkingWaterPro grammeandRuralTelephony,havetogetherbeen allocatedRs58,000crore. Allocationforhealthcarehasbeenincreasedby 20%toRs26,750crore. Yetagain,initiativestoreformthehealthcare agendahavegoneunansweredintheUnion budget,saidPrathapC.Reddy,chairman,Apollo HospitalsGroup.Thoughthebudgethadasignifi cantallocationforinfrastructure,notfinding healthcareontheagendaofthefinanceminister takesanotheryearawayinbridgingtheaffordability andaccessibilitygapinourcountry. Publicexpentitureonhealthhoversaround1%ofthe grossdomesticproduct,orhalftheexpectedoutlay. CharuSehgal,seniordirector,DeloitteToucheToh matsuIndia,saidsomeothersocialsectorareashave faredbetter. TheincreasedcoverageofRashtriyaSwasthyaBima Yojana(NationalHealthInsuranceScheme)toinclude beneficiariesofMGNREGA(MahatmaGandhiNational RuralEmploymentGuaranteeAct)andsomeunorgan izedsectorssuchashazardousminingandassociated industriesisanexcellentstepandwillgoalongwayin increasingaccesstothepoorandencourageprivate sectorparticipationinruralareas,Sehgalsaid. Theincomeofworkersandhelpersatanganwadis,or governmentrundaycarecentres,hasbeendoubled. Themoveisexpectedtobenefitnearly2.2millionpeo ple. However,ithasnotbeenreplicatedforvoluntaryac creditedsocialhealthactivistsoftheNationalRural HealthMission. Forthefirsttime,specificallocationshave beenearmarkedforthescheduledcaste subplanandthetribalsubplan.The budgetallocationfortribalgroupswas increasedfromRs185crorein201011to Rs244crorein201112. TheSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(EducationFor AllCampaign)receivedasignificantboost witha40%hikeinbudgetaryallocation, fromRs15,000croretoRs21,000crore. Mukherjeehasalsoproposedascholar shipschemeforneedystudentsfrom scheduledcasteandscheduledtribecate goriesstudyinginclasses9and10,which couldpotentiallybenefitfourmillionstu dents. http:// www.livemint.com/2011/03/01002649/ Budgetgivessocialsectorsho.html

Governmentplays'aamaadmi'card|DeccanHerald|28February2011
FinanceMinisterPranabMukherjeeonMonday proposedanallocationofRs160,887croreor36.4 percentofthetotalplanallocationforsocialsec tor,aincreaseof17percentoverthecurrentyear. Healsosuggestedtodoublethewagesofaround 22lakhAnganwadiworkersandhelpersacrossthe country. TheUPAgovernmentsflagshipprogrammeshave beentheprincipalinstrumentforimplementingits agendaforinclusivedevelopment,Mukherjee said. Accordingtohim,thegovernmentwouldintroduce theNationalFoodSecurityBillintheParliamentthis year.TheNFSBisbeingprojectedastheUPAsnext landmarkinitiativeaftertheMahatmaGandhiNa tionalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeAct,whichit hadbroughtintoforceduringits200409tenure. Thecountryhascarriedforlongenoughthebur denofhungerandmalnutrition.Afterdetailed consultationswithallstakeholders,includingthe stategovernments,weareclosetothefinalisation oftheNFSB,whichwillbeintroducedintheParlia mentthisyear,saidMukherjee. TheNFSBisintendedtoprovideunderprivileged sectionsofthesocietywithlegalentitlementof particularquantitiesofriceandwheatatcheaper priceeverymonth.TheBillisbelievedtobevery closetoUPAchairpersonSoniaGandhisheart.The NationalAdvisoryCouncil,headedbySonia,hasalready preparedaframeworknoteandanexplanatorynoteon theproposedlegislationandposteditonitswebsite andsoughtcommentsfrompublic. TheNACsWorkingGrouponFoodSecuritywilltake intoaccountthefeedbacksreceivedtillMarch7next whilefinalisingthedraftlegislation. Theadvisorypanelislikelytodiscussthedraftinits meetingonMarch24. MukherjeeproposedahikeofRs10,000croretoraise theallocationsforBharatNirman,whichincludesthe PradhanMantriGramSadakYojana,AcceleratedIrriga tionBenefitProgramme,RajivGandhiGrameenVidyuti karanYojana,IndiraAwasYojana,NationalRuralDrink ingWaterProgrammeandRuralTelephony,toRs 58,000crore. Heannouncedtoraisethemonthlyremunerationsfor theAnganwadiworkersfromRs1,500toRs3,000and forAnganwadihelpersfromRs750toRs1,500. Specificallocations TheBudget201112forthefirsttimeproposedspecific allocationsforScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes SubPlans.Theallocationsforprimitivetribalgroupswill risefromRs185crorein201011toRs244crorein 201112. Theministerproposed20percentand 24percentincreaseinallocationsfor health(Rs26,760crore)andeducation sectors(Rs52,057crore),respectively. Hisemphasisonsocialsectoriswellin keepingwiththeCongressplantofocus moreonpursuingitsAamAadmiagenda tooffsettheimpactsofthescamsonthe imageofthegovernment,particularly aheadoftheAssemblyelectionsinKer ala,WestBengal,TamilNadu,Assamand Puducherry. MukherjeealsooutlinedtheUPAsfive prongedstrategytocombatcorruption andimprovegovernance. Hesaidthatagroupofministershas beentaskedwithaddressingissuesrelat ingtostatefundingofelections,speedier processingofcorruptioncasesofpublic servants,transparencyinpublicprocure mentandcontracts,discretionarypowers ofCentralministersandcompetitive systemforexploitingnaturalresource. http://www.deccanherald.com/ content/141930/congressplaysaam aadmicard.html

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Socialsectorallocationupby17%|TimesofIndia|1March2011
FinanceministerPranabMukher jeeannouncedonMondayafoodsecurity billfor2011/12,abudgetmeasurethat wouldprovidecheapgrainsformillionsof poorbutwhichhassparkedworriesoverits hugecost. Itwaspartofaslewofincreasedsocial spendingintheannualbudgetasPrime MinisterManmohanSinghconfrontshigh pricesandcorruptionscandalsaswellas electionsinfivestatesthisyear. Inhisbudgetspeech,thefinanceminister saidsocialspendingwouldriseby17per centin201112.Thatincludeshealthspend ing,whichwouldrise20percentinthefiscal yearstartingApril1. Butthegovernmenthopesbuoyanttax revenuesfromnearninepercenteconomic growthwillkeepfiscaldeficitfallingto5.1 percentofGDPthisfiscalyearandto4.6 percentofGDPin2011/12figureswidely seenastoooptimistic. "Boththeborrowingandfiscaldeficitnum bershavebeenworkedouttakingintoac countthemostoptimisticmacroeconomic scenarios,whichinalllikelihoodisnotgoing tobetherealsituation."saidRupaRege Nitsure,chiefeconomistatBankofBaroda inMumbai. Therewerefewofthereforms,likeallowing foreigninvestmentinthemodernsupermar ketsector,thatmanyinvestorshadhopedto improveproductivityandhelpIndiacompete withthelikesofChina. "Attimesthebiggestreformsarenotthe onesthatmakeheadlines,buttheones concernedwithdetailsofgovernancewhich affecttheeverydaylifeofthecommon man,"Mukherjeetoldparliament "Inpreparingthisyear'sbudget,Ihavebeendeeply consciousofthisfact." ItappearedthatrulingCongresspartychiefSoniaGan dhiandhermoreleftistadvisorshadwonoverreform istslikethebeleaguredprimeministerwhoisengulfed incorruptionscandals. India'smosttraded8.13percent,2022bondyieldrose 2basispointsto8.11percentonnewsofincreased socialspendingbeforefallingtoasmuchas8.05per centafterthefiscaldeficittargetandnetborrowing amountofnextyearwasannounced. Focusonfarmsector Mukherjeealsoannouncedincentivesforprivateinvest mentininfrastructureaswellasmovestohelpagricul turalproductivitytosustaineconomicgrowthandlower inflation. Theministerraisedtheforeigninvestmentlimitincor porateinfrastructurebondsby$20billion.Mukherjee alsosaidinfrastructuredebtfundswouldbecreated. Inapilotmove,theministersaidsomesubsidiesfor foodandfuelwouldbedirectlygivenascashtocustom ersstartinginMarch,amoveaimedatmakingthesub sidiessystemmoreefficientwithlesswaste. Thegovernmentisexpectedtocountonarobustecon omytoexpandrevenueintheabsenceofbigonetime gainsthatitenjoyedinthecurrentyearfromthesaleof 3Gtelecomlicences.Mukherjeesaidheexpectedthe economytogrow9percentin2011/2012andforinfla tiontoease. Asia'sthirdlargesteconomyisontracktogrowat8.6 percentinthecurrentfiscalyearthatendsinMarch. Theeconomygrewaslowerthanexpected8.2percent intheOctobertoDecemberquarterfromayearearlier, governmentdataonMondayshowed.Themedian forecastinaReuters'pollwasanannualriseof8.6 percent. Gettingridofsupplybottlenecksinthefoodsectorwill beinfocusin201112,Mukherjeesaid,addingthatcold storagechainswouldbegiveninfrastructurestatus, whichmakesthemeligibleforpreferentialbor rowingratestobuildfacilities. Asmuchas40percentofIndia'sfruitandvegeta bleproductioniswastedbecauseofpoornet worksandalackofcoldstoragefacilities,with muchproductstillsoldonflatbottomedcartsby smallholderseveninthecentreofcitieslike Delhi. Themovestobolsterdevelopmentofinfrastruc turewereexpected.Inadequatepower,roads andotherinfrastructureactasbottlenecksto growthandpushupcosts. India'sbudgetwillalsogivea3percentinterest subsidytofarmersin2011/12,upfrom2percent previously,andraisesthetargetforloanstothe farmsectorto4.75trillionrupees($105billion) from3.75trillionrupeespreviously. Someeconomistssaythegovernmentisoptimis ticinitsfiscaldeficitpredictionsgiventheab senceofonetimegainsfromtelecomlicence salesandtheprospectthatsubsidyburdencould swellifoilpricesstayabove$100perbarrel andNewDelhicontinuestosubsidisedieseland cookingfuels. Someeconomistsalsoexpectaslowdownin growthinthenewyear,whichwouldmakethe deficittargethardertoreach. NewDelhiannouncednetmarketborrowingof 3.43trillionrupeesfromthebondmarketinthe newyear,lessthanthe3.77trillionrupeesfore castinaReuterspoll. Indiaisinabindoverinflation,whichhas promptedstreetprotestsanddrawncriticism fromtheopposition.Foodandfuelsubsidiesare popularwithvotersandhelpoffsetinflationbut addtofiscalburden. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/union budget2011/Socialsectorallocationupby17/ articleshow/7594359.cms

Notfeelingtoosocialjustyet|HindustanTimes|1March2011
Inthe201011budgetspeech,financeminis terPranabMukherjeehadmadegrandob servationsabouthowthebudgetbelonged totheaamaadmi.Butayearlaterstand ingatthesameplaceandinfrontofthe sameaudiencehesteeredclearofany suchgrandstanding.Giventhisandthefact thatthe201112budgethasnothadanybig ticketoutlayforthesocialsector,manyfeel thatthecommonmanhasbeengivena shortshriftandthebudgetis,atbest,a bagfulofhalfmeasures. Yet,inMrMukherjeesdefence,therehave beensomesignificantincreases:thepro posedallocationofRs1,60,887croreforthe socialsectorinthebudgethasseenanin creaseofanifty17%overthecurrentyear. This,thefinanceministerremindedthe House,amountsto36.4%centofthetotal planallocation. Butascrutinyoftheproposalsshowthatthereare severalhalfmeasures.Whilethebelatedincreaseinthe remunerationofanganwadiworkers,thelastmilelink betweentheIntegratedChildDevelopmentServices programmeanditsbeneficiaries,isawelcomemove, therehasbeennomentionofaddingtothenumberof centreswenowhave. Thepresentshortfallisaround1.75lakhcentres.Simi larlythehealthsectorshouldhavebeengivenabigger boostconsideringthatflashexpensesonhealthpushes familiesbackintothepovertytrap.The12%increasein allocationstothehealthministryisgrosslyinade quatesincetheprimaryhealthcentresandcommunity healthcentresneedtobebeefedupwithhealthwork ers,medicinesandequipment. Accordingtooneestimate,thegovernmentneedsto investRs3,000croretoupgradeexistingfacilities.In education,akeysectorthatwillproducetheworkforce requiredtosustainIndiaseconomicprogress,thegov ernmenthasnotgonethewholehog. For201112,thefinanceministerhasallocated Rs21,000crorewhichis40%higherthantheRs 15,000croreallocatedin201011.Thoughthe MahatmaGandhiNationalRuralEmployment GuaranteeActwages,theUPAsflagshippro gramme,willbelinkedtotheConsumerPrice IndexforAgriculturalLabour,theallocationhas seenaslightdip. Whenthestatesaresittingonaneatpileof money,thegovernmentfeels,theresnoneed tobudget. Soisthegovernmentisdilutingtheaamaadmi focus?Inthepresentpoliticalscenario,thisis unlikely.But,MrMukherjee,itseems,tookthis budgettopauseandreassesstheleakydelivery systembeforespreadingmoremoneyround. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Notfeeling toosocialjustyet/Article1668335.aspx

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Notmuchforthehealthsector|Livemint|1March2011
Budget2011hasboostedtheallocationfor healthby20%.Thatdoesntreallysaymuch forthegovernmentsflagshiphealthpro gramme,theNationalRuralHealthMission (NRHM).TheSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(SSA), aimedatprovidingelementaryeducationto all,hasincomparisonreceiveda40%in creaseinallocation. MysenseisthatIndiaspublichealthspend ingisverylowatabout1.4%ofgrossdomes ticproduct(GDP).Ihavealwaysmaintained thatIndiashouldbespendingnolessthan 3%ofGDPonpublichealth.Surelythatcant beattainedinonefinancialyear.Butwe needtohavesubstantialincreasesevery year.That,Iamafraid,Idontseehappening inthehealthsectorasofnow. IbelieveNRHMsabsorptivecapacityiscon siderablyhighernow,andhencemuch higherlevelsofpublichealthspendingcan beabsorbedbyit.Forhealth,itwouldhave beengreatifthebudgethadproposedto stepuptheplanallocationin201112by 40%insteadof20%.Indianeedstoprovide formajorincreasesyearonyearsothatthe publichealthspendingreachesatleast3%ofGDPby 2015andbetween4.5%and5%by2020. Theincreaseintheeducationsectorbudgetiswelcome, butIwouldliketoseemorequalityupgradeationfunds forprimaryschools.Theuniversaleducationpro grammehasbeenoperationalsince2001andfundsfor ithavebeenincreasingannually,butalargepartof spendingonprimaryeducationneedstobeworkedon. Weneedtostartlookingatlearningandteachingout comes. Soyouhaveafairamountofmoneygoingintocon structionofschoolsandhiringandtrainingofteachers andinfrastructure.Butnowweneedinterventionsin classroomsandweneedresourcestoupgradethecur riculumandreviseschoolbooks.Thereisabigdiscon nectbetweenhowmuchistaughtandhowmuchis retained. IwouldarguethatalargepartoftheSSAbudgetshould bespentonqualityupgradation. UndertheIntegratedChildDevelopmentScheme (ICDS),theincomeofanganwadiworkersandhelpers hasbeendoubled.WhileonehasseenthatICDShasnt reallybeendeliveringthewayitshouldhave,wealso needtothinkabouthowtheseworkersareperforming, whoiswatchingoverthem,andwhetherornotthereis anyaccountability.Merelybyraisingsalaries,I dontthinksystemwillstartdelivering.Along withthatweneedsomeaccountability.Fora longtimewehavebeensayingthattheaccred itedsocialhealthactivistsoftheNRHMshouldbe paidmuchmorethantheyarenowandmustbe givengreaterperformancebasedincentives. Moreover,manydontreceivepaymentssince itsalldonethroughchequesandthesystem hasntbeenupgradedtoelectronictransfers.The governmentalsoneedstogettheNationalUrban HealthMissionupandrunning.Therearehuge diseaseburdensintheurbansector,especially duetononcommunicablediseasessuchasdia betes,obesity,cardiovascularproblems,hyper tensionandcancer.Beforetheproblembecomes bigger,someamountofresourcesandinterven tionsandsomeamountofawarenessisneeded onanurgentbasis. NirupamBajpai,director,ColumbiaGlobalCen ters,SouthAsia

http:// www.livemint.com/2011/03/01002538/ Not-much-for-the-health-sector.html

OfluckynumbersandotherstheFMcantsee|TimesofIndia|4March2011
TheItalianphrase"lasciailtempoque trova"(itleavestheairitfinds)doesabetter jobofdescribingPranabMukherjee'sbudget thanIndia'scorporatemediawouldever daretodo. Toputitmildly,thebudgetthisyear,isyet again,anutterdisappointmentforthefood andagriculturesectors.Tobeginwith,flag shipschemeslikethemiddaymealsand theIntegratedChildDevelopmentSer vicesdidnot,unlikeinpreviousyears,even findmentioninthefinance minister'sspeech.Unsur prising,sincetheallocation forbothprogrammeshas seenacutbackinreal terms. Takethebudgetfor theICDSwhichhasseenan increaseofRs864crore.Of this,closetoRs250croreis foramuchdeservedin creaseinthewagesofan ganwadiworkers,which havebeendoubledfromRs 1500permonthtoRs3000 permonth.Thismeansan effectiveincreaseofjustRs614crorefora programmethatismeanttoprovidesix essentialservices,includingsupplementary nutritionto16crorechildrenundertheage ofsix,acrossthecountry.Inrealterms, therefore,thepaltryincreasedoesnotfactorineven thefoodinflation. Similarly,childreninschoolsacrossthecountrywillnot beabletogeteitherthequantityorthequalityoffood providedinthepreviousyear,withtheproposedin creaseofRs940crore,whichislessthan10%oflast year'sbudgetinayearthathasseenfoodinflationofa muchhigherorder.HowdoestheFMproposetoex plainthecutstochildrenwhohaveseentheirdalsgo wateryandwhogethalfthenumberofeggsintheir mealscomparedtothepreviousyear? InthesamesessionofParliament,while theprimeministerannouncedtheintent ofthegovernmenttolaunchtheambi tiousNationalFoodSecurityBill,hisFM allocatedRs27crorelessthisyearinthe budgetforthefoodsubsidythanthe revisedestimateofthepreviousyear! But,itisintheallocationsintheagricul turalsectorthattheFMdriveshomethe intentofthegovernmentfornon inclusivegrowth.It'saselfdefeating exerciseofallocatingRs300croreeach forprogrammesondevelopingpulsesin 60,000villages,bringing60,000hectares underpalmoilproduction,creatingvege tableclustersnearurbancentres,pro motingmilletsin25,000villagesandsoonandsoforth. BywayofexplanationforthemagicalfigureofRs300 croreforeachoftheseinitiatives,theFMexplainedin hisBudgetspeechthat"thenumber3happenstobe myluckynumber".Thejokewouldnothavebeenon theIndianfarmer,crushedbytheagrariancrisis,ifhe hadstucktohisluckynumberandaddedthree, insteadoftwozeroes,andallocatedRs3,000 croretoeachofthesesectors.TheFMremained oblivioustothefactthatinthetimehetookto deliverhisBudgetspeech,fivefarmers inIndiacommittedsuicide.Whatelsecanex plainthenetcutbackofRs5,868croreinagri culturalsubsidiesthathewentontopropose? Toaddinsulttoinjury,theFMincreasedthe "subsidies"tothecorporatesectorintheform ofrevenuesforegonebyRs34,652croreover lastyear,takingtherevenuesforegoneinthis budgettoawhoppingRs5,36,881crore.That "IndiaShining"hasbeenreplacedby"India Dazzling"isevidentfromthefactthatthetax exemptionsforthejewelleryandprecious stonessectorhasbeenincreasedbyRs9,029 croreandnowstandsatRs48,798crore. ComparethiswiththepridetheFMtookin announcingtheeffectivecutofsubsidiestothe poorbyRs22,751croreinthisBudgetasagainst therevisedestimatesofthepreviousyear,and theintentofthe"aamadmi"governmentbe comesclearer. WiththisBudget,PranabMukherjeehastruly liveduptotheidealthatUPAIIhassetforitself: Nevermissanopportunitytomissanopportu nity. (BirajPatnaikisprincipaladvisertotheCommis sionersoftheSupremeCourtintheRightto FoodCase.Theviewsarepersonal)

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Evadingchallengesinsocialsectorsandfoodsecurity|Livemint|28February2011
Thegovernmentwantstoreducethescope ofitsbudget(asmeasuredbytotalbudget aryexpenditure)comparedwiththesizeof Indiaseconomy.So,totalexpenditurefrom thebudgetwouldshrinkfrom15.4%ofgross domesticproduct(GDP)in201011(revised estimate,orRE)to14%ofGDPin201112 (budgetestimate,orBE).Thebruntofthis conservativefiscalpolicyisgoingtobeborne bythepoor. Despiteagrowingrecognitionoftheneed forsignificantlyexpandingthecoverageof thepublicdistributionsystemforfoodgrains, andthepersistenceofinflationinfoodarti cles,thefoodsubsidyoutlayhasbeencur tailedfromRs60,600crorein201011(RE)to Rs60,573crorein201112(BE).Further,the budgetoutlayforthepetroleumsubsidyhas beenreducedsignificantlyfromRs38,386 crorein201011(RE)toRs23,640crorein 201112(BE).Giventhepredictionsthat crudeoilpriceswillrisefurtherincoming months,areducedsubsidyin201112could causeafurtherincreaseinpricesofpetro leumproducts,andhenceapersistenceof theinflationproblem. Thetotalbudgetoutlayforsocialsectors (excludingnonPlancapitalexpenditureon suchsectors,whichisusuallysmallandsporadic)had goneupfrom1.86%ofGDPin200910to2.06%ofGDP in201011(RE).Butithasnowfallento1.96%ofGDPin 201112(BE).TheoutlayforPlanexpenditureonthese sectorsshowsa14%increaseover201011(RE),butthe outlayfornonPlanrevenueexpenditureonthesesec torshasregisteredasharpdecline,fromRs35,085crore toRs20,862crore.Thiskindoflopsidedpolicyforsocial sectorspendinghasalreadygivenrisetoacutestaff shortagesinmoststates. Moreover,withtheCentresbudgetcontributingfunds worthonly2%ofGDPtothesocialsectors(i.e.educa tion,health,waterandsanitation,andsoon),thetotal budgetaryspendingonthesewillcontinuetobeless than7%ofGDPin201112.Theaveragefigureforsocial sectorspendingbygovernmentsinOECDcountriesisas highas14%ofGDP. WhilethebudgetoutlayforSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(SSA) hasbeenincreasedfromRs15,000crorein201011(BE) toRs21000crorein201112(BE),theschemecan hardlysucceedinoperationalizingtheRighttoEduca tionActwiththismagnitudeoffunds.TheCentres estimation,amodestonefromthepointofviewof quality,hasindicatedthatadditionalbudgetoutlaysfor elementaryeducationrequiredforoperationalizingthe ActwouldbeRs1.82trillionoveraperiodoffiveyears. Hence,ifjustonefifthofthishadtobeallocatedin 201112,withthebudgetcontributingonlyhalfofit, theoutlayforSSAshouldhavebeenincreasedat leasttoRs33,000crore. Inthehealthsector,whilethefinanceminister hasannouncedthattheRashtriyaSwasthyaBima Yojanawouldbeextendedtoincludeunorgan izedsectorworkersinhazardousoccupations, thebudgetoutlayfortheschemehasbeen broughtdownfromRs446crorein201011(RE) toRs280crorein201112(BE).InIntegrated ChildDevelopmentServices(ICDS),thelong overduedemandforincreasingtheremuneration ofanganwadiworkersandhelpershasbeen recognized,withremunerationpermonthbeing doubledfromRs1,500toRs3,000forworkers, andfromRs750toRs1500forhelpers.However, whatisworryinghereisthatthebudgetoutlay forICDSshowsamuchsmallerincreasefrom Rs9,280crorein201011(RE)toRs10,000crore in201112(BE). Thus,intermsoftheprioritygiventosocialsec torsandfoodsecurity,Budget201112defiesour expectations. SubratDas,executivedirector,CentreforBudget andGovernanceAccountability

http:// www.livemint.com/2011/02/28200845/ Evading-challenges-in-social-s.html

Trends in Social Services Expenditure by Government (Central and State Governments combined) | Source : Economic Survey 2010-11

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ImagesofflagshipsocialsectorprogrammesofGoI Source:Websites

ShareofSocialandEconomicServicesinDevelopmentExpenditure|Source: RBIWebsite

BudgetBriefsAccountabilityInitiative
FollowingarethebudgetbriefspreparedbyAccountabilityInitiative,CentreforPolicyResearch.ThesebriefsreportonthePradhanMantri GramSadakYojanaandTargetedPublicDistributionSystem. Budgetbriefsareanannualpublicationthatusesgovernmentreporteddatatoreportontheefficacyofgovernmentspendinginflagship socialsectorprograms.Thebriefsundertakebasicanalysisofallocationandexpendituretrendsandwherepossible,giventhelimitationsof governmentdata,onoutputsandoutcomes.Theobjectiveofthesebriefsistoprovideasnapshotofsocialsectorprogramsandtopro moteawiderpublicdebateonthequalityandlimitationsofgovernmentdataforflagshipprograms.Moresuchbriefsareavailableat http://www.accountabilityindia.in/budgetbriefs.

PradhanMantriGramSadakYojana
Background:ThePradhanMantriGramSadakYojana (PMGSY)waslaunchedin2000.Theprogrammere ceivedamajorboostin2005whenGovernmentofIndia (GOI)integratedPMGSYintoitsBharatNirmanPro gramme.BharatNirmanisaflagshipGOIefforttoim proveruralinfrastructure. Usinggovernmentdata,thisbriefreportsonPMGSY progressalongthefollowingparameters: a)Overalltrendsinallocationsandexpenditures, b)Statewiseprogressonroadworkscompleted, c)Overallprogressinensuringruralconnectivity. CostShare:PMGSYisa100%CentrallySponsored Scheme.50%ofthecessonHighSpeedDieselisear markedfortheprogramme.PMGSYalsogetsfunds fromexternalsourcessuchastheWorldBank,National BankforAgriculturalandRuralDevelopment(NABARD). FundsarereleasedbytheGOIbasedonproposalssub mittedbythestate. CompleteexpendituredataispubliclyavailableuptoFY 200809.DataforFY200910isincomplete.Quarter wisereleaseandexpendituredataisavailableinthe DMUreport.

Highlights GOIallocationsforPMGSYinFY201011(incrores) %releasedoutofvalueofproposalinFY200809 %spentoutofvalueofproposalinFY200809 Rs.10,886 30% 48%

SummaryandAnalysis 1.Inthelast5yearsPMGSYallocationshavehadanover3foldincreaseinallocationsupfrom Rs.3,836croresinFY200506. 2.Underspendingisaseriousproblem.InFY200506,84%oftotalvalueofproposalswas spentthisdecreasedto48%inFY200809. 3.Therearewideinterstatevariationsinexpenditure.Karnataka,AndhraPradeshandGujarat areamongstthebetterperformers. 4.Performancelevelsasmeasuredintermsofroadworkscompletedtoovariesacrossstates. Gujaratspent75%ofitstotalvalueofproposalsinFY200809andcompleted79%ofitssanc tionedroads.Orissaspent47%ofitsvalueofproposalsbutcompletedonly19%ofitssanc tionedroads. 5.Therearelargedifferencesintheaveragecostperkilometreofroadbuilt.OrissaandBihar spentthemostatRs.44lakhandRs.42lakhperkilometrerespectively.TamilNaduandRajast hanspenttheleastatRs.21lakhandRs.16lakhperkilometrerespectively. 6.Despite11yearsofPMGSY,therehasbeenamere17percentagepointdecreaseinthe proportionofunconnectedhabitations.

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Budget Briefscontinued
TrendsinCentralGovernmentAllocationsand Expenditures ThePradhanMantriGramSadakYojana(PMGSY) waslaunchedin2000withtheobjectiveofim provingruralconnectivity. Since200506,therehasbeenanearly3fold increaseinallocations.InFY201011,Rs.10,886 croreswasallocatedtoPMGSY,upfromRs.3,836 croresinFY200506. Underspendingisinextricablylinkedtothenatureof GOIreleases.AsPMGSYhasprogressed,GOIreleaseof fundstostateshasreduced.InFY200809,30percent fundswerereleased.DelayinGOIreleaseisaconse quenceofdelayedstatespending,whichinturnaf fectsspendingcapacityasaproportionofthevalueof proposals.Theresult:aviscouscycleoflowrelease andlowexpenditures Thesenumbersneedtobeunderstoodinthecontext oftheoverallnatureofreportingforPMGSY.Inthe currentreportingstructure,expendituresarerecorded onthebasisofvalueofproposals.Soifexpenditures foranFY200506proposalisincurredinanyyear otherthanFY200506,itstillgetsbookedasexpendi tureincurredinFY200506.Thisisthereasonwesee asignificantdecreaseinreleaseandexpenditurefor FY200809whencomparedwithFY200506.

Gujaratspent75percentofitstotalvalueof proposalsinFY200809andcompleted79 percentofitssanctionedroads.Similarly, Punjabspent70percentandbuilt69percent ofitssanctionedroads. Orissaspent47percentofitsvalueofpropos alsbutcompletedonly19percentofitssanc tionedroads. PMGSYisademanddrivenscheme.Fundavail abilityisbasedonproposalssubmittedtothe centrebystategovernments.50percentof fundsforPMGSYcomefromacessonHigh SpeedDieselofRs.1.50/litre. PMGSYisa100percentCentrallySponsored Scheme.Atthestartofthefinancialyear,GOI setsasideapoolofmoneyintheannualbudget forPMGSY.Statesprepareproposalsfor expendituresbasedontheirrequirement,inde pendentoftheinitialGOIbudget.Accordingto programmeguidelines,theplanningprocess beginsattheblocklevel.Blockplansareaggre gatedatthedistrict.Everydistrictthusprepares DistrictRuralRoadsPlansthataresenttothe statelevelagenciesandtheNationalRuralRoads DevelopmentAgency.Oncereceived,these proposalsareevaluatedandapprovedbyGOI. ExpenditurePerformance:Fundsforapproved projectsaremadeavailabletotheStateRural RoadsDevelopmentAuthority(SRRDA)intwo installments.Sinceitsinceptionin2000,atotal ofRs.1,04,704croreshasbeensanctionedfor PMGSY,ofwhichRs.78,338crores(75percent) hasbeenreleased. Asthereleasenumberssuggest,underspending isrampantinPMGSY.Thisisbestdemonstrated bycomparingthevalueofproposalssubmitted bystategovernmentsandapprovedbyGOIwith theactualmoneyspent.InFY200506,84per centoftotalvalueofproposalswasspent.InFY 200809,only48percentofthiswasspent.

TrendsinAllocationsandExpendituresattheState Level Inthisoverallenvironmentofunderspending,state expenditureperformanceshowssomevariations. Karnataka,AndhraPradeshandGujaratareamongst thebetterperformers. InFebruary2011,Biharreportedspending57percent ofitsfundsforFY200506andonly15percentforFY 200809.GiventhatBiharhas,inrecentyears,signifi cantlyenhanceditseffortsonimprovingruralinfra structure,itsachievementof57percentofitsFY2005 06targetscouldwellbeaconsequenceofmorerecent effortsratherthanachievementsinthatyear. RajasthanandPunjabhavemanagedtomaintaina steadyexpenditureperformance85percentand93 percentrespectivelyinFY200506and71percentand 70percentinFY200809.Thisindicatesthattheplan ningandsequencingofworksinthesestateshasbeen wellharmonizedovertheyears. Coverage Performancelevelsvaryacrossstates.Despiteacon sistentincreaseinallocations,thereisagrowingdis paritybetweenroadssanctionedandroadscom pleted.

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Budget Briefs Continued

Thepaceofprogress,asindicatedbythepercent ageofroadworkscompletedseemstohave sloweddownconsiderablybetweenFY200506 andFY200809.WhileMaharashtraandChhattis garhwereabletocomplete95and94percentof theirroadworkssanctionedinFY200506respec tively,thissharplydroppedto15and32percent forprojectssanctionedinFY200809.Again,this couldbeduetobackdatedreportingpatterns. Accordingtotheschemedesign,connectivitytohabitationsisprioritisedbypopulationsize.However, accordingtogovernmentdata,higherpopulationareas(1000+)havewitnessedonlya9percentagepoint increaseinconnectivityin11years.Lowpopulationareashavedoneevenworsewithonlya2percentage pointimprovementinconnectivity.LargerhabitationsarelikelytobeintheCoreNetwork,andassuch areeasiertolinkthroughneworupgradedroads.Thedifficultyofconnectingsmallerhabitationswhich arebroughtundertheCoreNetworkandtheRuralRoadsPlanisgoingtoincreaseinthefuture.Scheme designandmonitoringphysicalandfinancialprogresswillbecriticalforthefuturesuccessofthePMGSY.

TargetedPublicDistributionSystem
Background:Inordertoensurefoodsecurity,theGov ernmentofIndia(GOI)providesfoodsubsidytociti zens.TheTargetedPublicDistributionSystem(TPDS)is theprimaryvehicleusedfordeliveryofthissubsidy. Usinggovernmentreporteddata,thisbriefreportson TPDStrendsalongthefollowingparameters: a)Allocationoffoodsubsidy, b)Procurementandstockoffoodgrains,and c)CoverageanddistributionofTPDS. CostShareandImplementation:GOIsCommissionof AgriculturalCostandPrices(CACP)fixestheprocure mentpricefromfarmersorMinimumSupportPrices (MSPs).Withtheexceptionofsomestates,grainsare procuredcentrallybytheFoodCorporationofIndia (FCI).Responsibilityfordistributionoffoodgrainsto beneficiariesrestswiththestategovernmentsthrough theTPDS.GrainsaredistributedattheCentralIssue Price(CIP). Completedataonallocationandofftakeisavailableon FCIwebsitefrom200203till200910. Highlights Therearelargedifferencesintheaveragecostper kilometreofroadbuilt.OrissaandBiharspentthe mostatRs.44lakhandRs.42lakhperkilometre respectively.TamilNaduandRajasthanspentthe leastatRs.21lakhandRs.16lakhrespectively. Despite11yearsofPMGSY,therehasbeena mere17percentagepointdecreaseinthepropor tionofunconnectedhabitations. GOIallocationforfoodsubsidyin FY201011(incrores) Foodsubsidyasa%ofGDPinFY 200910 Rs.55,211 0.9% Trendsatthecentrallevel TheGovernmentofIndias(GOI)allocationfor foodsubsidyhasmorethandoubledsinceFY 200506.InFY201011,Rs.55,211croreswas allocatedfortheprovisionoffoodsubsidyby GOI.Thiswasamarginal5percentdropfrom

SummaryandAnalysis 1.TheGovernmentofIndias(GOI)foodsubsidybillhas morethandoubledsinceFY200506.InFY200910, GOIsfoodsubsidyaccountedfor0.9%ofIndiasGDP. 2.FCIscurrentstockoffoodgrainsissignificantly higherthantheminimumbufferrequirement.InApril 2009,whilethebuffernormforricewas122lakhton nes,FCIsactualstockwas216lakhtonnesadifference of94lakhtonnes. 3.Theexcessstockofwheatisevenhigher.InJuly2009, theactualstockexceededthenormby158lakhtonnes. 4.Poorstorageandtransitfacilitiesaccountedforaloss ofRs.101croreandRs.133crorerespectivelyinFY 200809. 5.Overallofftakeasaproportionofallocatedfoodgrains hasimprovedfrom50%inFY200506to81%inFY 200910.TPDShasalsoseenalargeimprovement.For instance,Gujaratlifted96%ofwheatupfrom18%inFY 200506. 6.Inthelast5years,allotmentoffoodgrainsforAPL familieshasdecreasedby22percentagepoints.During thesameperiod,BPLallotmentincreasedbyapproxi mately10percentagepoints.

thepreviousyear. AsapercentageofGDP,GOIfoodsubsidyallo cationinFY200910was0.9percent.When measuredasapercentageoftotalexpenditure incurredbyGOIandstategovernments,food subsidyaccountsfor2.8percentoftotalexpen diture. FoodgrainsareprocuredbytheFoodCorpora tionofIndia(FCI).Themainobjectivesofpro curementare:a)toprovideremunerativeprices toproducersorfarmers,b)tobuildupand maintainastockoffoodgrainsasbufferstocks, andc)tosupplysubsidisedfoodgrainstothe poorthroughtheTargetedPublicDistribution System(TPDS)andotherwelfareschemes. TheFCIprocuresfoodgrainsfromproducersat predeterminedprices,knownasMinimum SupportPrices(MSP).Thesehavebeenfixedby theGOIfor25essentialcommodities,including rice,wheat,paddyandsugar. Themainfoodgrainsprovidedthroughthefood subsidyregimearericeandwheat.InFY2008 09,88percentofthesewereprocuredfrom7 states.

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Budget Briefs Continued

Inconsonancewiththeincreaseinproductionand procurement,bufferstockoffoodgrainshasalsobeen increasing.By2009,theactualstockoffoodgrainwas muchhigherthantheminimumbuffernorms. LiftingofFoodgrains Inthelastfiveyears,therehasbeenanim provementintheproportionoffoodgrainslifted (includingdecentralisedprocurement)outof thetotalallocations.InFY200506,only50 percentofallocatedgrainswerelifted.This jumpedinFY200708to84percent,decreasing marginallyto81percentinFY200910.

ForFY200809,Punjabwasthehighestsupplierofrice andwheatat32percent.AndhraPradesh,Haryanaand UttarPradeshprovided15,14and13percentrespec tively. PunjabandHaryanawerethelargestsuppliersof wheatat42and27percentrespectively.Punjabalso contributedamajorportionofriceprocurementat25 percent.AndhraPradeshaccountedfor27percentof riceprocurement. Onaverage,foodgrainproductionhasbeengrowingat 3.4milliontonnesperyearsince197374.Accordingto thefourthandfinaladvanceestimates,FY200809saw thehighestproductionoffoodgrainsat234million tonnes.InFY200910,Indiafacedseveredrought conditions,butthisseemstohavehadamarginal effectonproductionasoverallproductiondeclinedby only16milliontonnesto218milliontonnesinthat year. ProcurementoffoodgrainsbyFCIandstateshasalso increased.AccordingtoFCIdataaccessedinFebruary 2011,57milliontonnesoffoodgrainswereprocuredin FY200809. Increaseinprocurementisinpartaconsequenceof increasedproduction.Equallytheprocurementprocess hasundergoneasignificantdesignchangewithan increasingnumberofstatesprocuringgrainslocally.In FY200809,8.9milliontonnesofriceandwheatwere procuredthroughdecentralisedprocurementby states.Accordingtoprovisionalfigures,ason22De cember2010,atotalofRs.9,376croreoffoodsubsidy hasbeenreleasedtovariousStatesunderdecentral isedprocurementoperationsinFY201011. BufferStock Animportantobjectiveofthefoodsubsidyprogramme isthemaintenanceofacentralpooloffoodgrainsto serveasabufferstock.Bufferstocksaremaintained for:a)supplyingfoodgrainstoTPDSandotherwelfare schemes,b)tomeetemergencysituationsarisingout ofunexpectedcropfailuresornaturaldisastersand,c) tomoderatefoodgrainpricesthroughmarketinterven tions.Inaddition,30lakhtonnesofwheatand20lakh tonnesofricearemaintainedasstrategicreserves.

SinceJanuary2009,ricereserveshavebeenconsistently morethantheminimumrequirement.Forinstance,inApril 2009,whilethebuffernormforricewas122lakhtonnes, theactualstockwas216lakhtonnesadifferenceof94 lakhtonnes. Excessreservesaremuchgreaterinthecaseofwheat.

SinceJuly2008,thegapbetweentheactualstockand thenormshasbeensteadilyincreasing.Forinstance,in July2009,whilethebufferrequirementforwheatwas 171lakhtonnes,theactualstockwas329lakhtonnes adifferenceof158lakhtonnes.

Gapsexistinstorageandtransportationof foodgrainsbytheFCI. InFY200607,Rs.156croreswerelostdueto poorstorageoffoodgrainsandalossofRs.134 croreswasincurredintransportationof foodgrains. Lossesduetopoorstorageandtransportation continuedtobehighinFY200809atRs.101 croresandRs.133croresrespectively. TargetedPublicDistributionSystem Distributionoffoodgrainstothepoorisensured throughtheTPDSwhichoperatesthrougha networkofFairPriceShopsorrationshops throughoutthecountry.

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Budget Briefscontinued
AllotmentandLiftingofTPDSfoodgrains Overtheyears,therehavebeensignificant variationsintotalallotmentoffoodgrainsto BelowPovertyLine(BPL),AbovePovertyLine (APL)andAntyodayaAnnaYojana(AAY)fami liesundertheTPDS.Themostsignificant changehasbeenthereductioninallotmentof foodgrainstoAPLfamiliesasaproportionof totalTPDSallotment.Inthelast5years,allot menthasdecreasedby22percentagepoints. Duringthesameperiod,BPLallotmentin creasedbyapproximately10percentagepoints toprocuregrainsfromwithinthestate. AcrossIndia,offtakeofwheatforTPDS(includingdecen tralisedprocurement)asaproportionofallocationhas seena51percentagepointincrease.However,largevaria tionsexistatstatelevel.InFY200506,BiharandGujarat collectedonly30and25percentofallocatedwheatunder TPDS,whileJharkhandcollected78percent. Differencesalsoexistfromyeartoyear.WhileJharkhand decreaseditsofftakeasapercentageofallocationinFY 200910,formostotherstates,therehasbeenasignifi cantimprovement.Orissa,TamilNaduandMadhya Pradeshincreasedtheirofftakeasaproportionofalloca tionby63,63and54percentagepointsrespectively. AkeyreasonfortheincreaseinMadhyaPradeshisgreater decentralisedofftakefrom4.5lakhtonnesinFY200506 tonearly16lakhtonnesinFY200910. TamilNadureportedliftingmorethan100percentofits allocations.Thisisbecauseofliftingagainstbacklogof previousyears. AcrossIndia,theofftakeofriceasaproportionoftotal allocationsforTPDS(includingdecentralisedprocurement) improvedfrom46percentinFY200506to98percentin FY200910. Moststateshavealsoshownsignificantim provementsduringthesefiveyears.InFY 200910,BiharandJharkhandhaveincreased theirofftakeby54and53percentagepoints respectively. Gujarathasshownthelargestincrease,from 18percentinFY200506,to96percentinFY 200910. Coverage Rationcardsareissuedbystateandunion territorygovernmentstoAPL,BPLandbene ficiariesunderAAY.

However,yearonyeartrendsshowinteresting results.TheprimaryreasonforthedropinAPL allotmentsisachangeinnorms.Accordingly, since200506,allotmentisnowdeterminedon thebasisofavailabilityincentralpoolandpast offtakeatthestatelevel.Consequently,states withlowofftakeduringtheprecedingthree yearswereallottedlessfoodgrainsforAPL households.InFY200910,theAPLallotment sawasignificantincrease.Thiswasonaccount ofSupremeCourtinterventionswithregardto thelargequantityofrottingfoodgrains.Su premeCourtinterventionresultedinGOIre leasing25millionmetrictonnesofgraintoAPL families.Thus,APLallotmentasaproportionof totalTPDSallotmentincreasedbyabout10 percentagepoints. ConsequenttotheoverallincreaseinAPLallot ment,thetotalfoodgrainallotmentforBPLasa proportionoftotalTPDSallotmentreducedby about7percentagepointsfromFY200809. Trendsatthestatelevel Stategovernmentsareresponsibleforidentifi cationofbeneficiaries,issuanceofrationcards anddistributionoffoodgrainstobeneficiaries throughrationshops. SinceFY199798,11statesincludingMadhya Pradesh,WestBengal,UttarPradesh,Tamil NaduandKeralaamongstothers,havebegun

Therearealargenumberoffakerationcards issuedcausinginefficienciesintargeting. BetweenJuly2006andJuly2010,inBihar, MadhyaPradesh,UttarPradeshand Orissaatotalof37lakhineligible/fakeration cardsforhouseholdshavebeeneliminated. Additionally,inMaharashtraandAndhra Pradesh29lakhand25lakhineligibleration cardswerediscoveredandcancelled. Giventheincreaseinproductionandpro curement,thefactthatfoodsecuritycontin uestobeachronicproblemisclearlylinked topoordelivery.TheGlobalHungerIndex releasedinOctober2010,placedIndiaina groupof29countrieswithalarminglevelsof hunger.Indiawasrankedbelowothercoun trieslikedChina,SriLanka,Pakistanandeven belowseveralcountriesinSubSaharanAf rica,suchasKenyaandNigeria.

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Articles
Auditingtheindicators
FollowingarethecontentsofIssuespaperpre paredforaworkshoponKeyIndicatorsand PublicAccountabilityheldinCAGsoffice. Accountability&PerformanceAuditing Therehasbeenaprogressiveshiftofstakeholder concernsbeyondbudgetarycontrolandregular ityofpublicexpendituretotheoutcomeand impactofStatesinterventionsinthedevelop mentprocess.SupremeAuditInstitutionsin deferencetostakeholdersinterests,havealso starteddevotinggreaterresourcestoperform anceauditing.Apartfromtheeconomyand efficiencyinuseofresourcesingovernment programmesandschemes,performanceaudits alsoevaluateeffectivenessofperformancein relationtotheachievementoftheobjectivesof theauditedentityandauditoftheactualimpact ofactivitiescomparedwiththeintendedimpact. Performanceauditingandindicators Criticaltoevaluationofeffectivenesswillbethe adoptionofanappropriatecriteria.Presenceofa widelyacceptedsystemofkeyindicatorsinareas suchashealth,education,ruraldevelopment, population,poverty,infrastructure,environment, etcwouldprovideauniformsetofcriterianot merelyforperformanceauditsbyanSAIbutalso evaluationbyotheragencies(externalandinter nal).Unfortunatelythereisnocomprehensive systemavailable.Divergentpracticescontinueto befollowedbymultilateralagencies,national governmentsandacademics.Coupledwiththe inconsistentqualityofstatisticalinformation withinandacrosscountriesthereisalwaysscope fordivergenceofviewsonperformanceevalua tion. Inadditiontoperformanceappraisal,indicators wouldfacilitateotherpurposesaswell: (a)Understandingthemutualinterdependence ofvariouspolicies/programmes; (b)Assesspositionandprogressoftheeconomy overtime,acrossthecountriesandacrossthe regionswithinacountry. (c)Providecrucialguidancefordecisionmaking inidentifyingandtransitiontowardssustainabil ity,and (d)Toprovideinformationtogeneralpublicin formsthatnonspecialistscanrelatetoandthus strengthentheaccountabilitymechanismofgovernance. Indicators&resultbasedbudgeting Indicatorsplayamorecriticalroleinorganizationsthathave movedtoresultbasedbudgetinge.g.UNagencies.Intheir caseappropriationsaresoughtforprespecifiedoutcomes andimpactsasreflectedinindicators.Subsequentcompli anceandaccountabilityisalsomeasuredwithreferenceto theseindicators.Thereisnowanincreasingtrendfrominput oroutlaybudgetingtoresultbasedbudgeting.Insuchcon texts,clarityandconsensusonindicatorsisextremelyneces sary.Furthermore,ifindicatorsbecomeintegraltostake holderreporting,independentandexternalverification (equivalenttoassuranceonfinancialstatements)should becomeessential.Acomprehensivesystemofindicators wouldinfactsubstituteforaccountingstandardsanddisclo surenormsinsuchanenvironment. IndiasexperiencewithIndicators Compilingofstatisticalinformationonvariouseconomicand socialparametershasbeenintegraltothepathofplanned developmentofIndia.ThePlanningCommission,NSSOand CSOhavebeencoordinatingeffortsinthisregard.Several administrativeMinistrieshavebeenusingindicatorstofix targetsandreportonperformance.Amajornewinitiative wastheHumanDevelopmentReportcompiledbythePlan ningCommissionin2001whichused70indicators.The ReportalsousedconceptsofHumanDevelopmentIndexand HumanPovertyIndexapartfromindicesofgendergapsand ruralurbandifferences.Thereisalsoamovetowardsdevel opingindicatorsofsustainabledevelopmentindicatorsfor India. Framingcomprehensiveindicatorsconsiderations Severalfactorswouldneedtobeconsideredwhileframing indicators.Someoftheseare:policyrelevance,conceptual issuessuchastheabilitytoaggregateinformation,capturing thecontextandprocess,sensitivity,availabilityandreliability ofdata,numberofindicators. AuditofIndicators ApartfromtheusefulnessofindicatorstoSAIsindischargeof theirperformanceaudits,indicatorscouldthemselvesbe objectsofauditscrutinyofSAIs.Forinstance,SAIsmightlook toseewhetherindicators: (a)Havepolicyrelevancewhichmeanstheymustbeeasyto interpret;showtrendsovertime;respondtochangesin drivingforces;andhavethresholdorreferencevaluesagainst whichprogresscanbemeasured. (b)Areanalyticallysound,forexamplebasedonaclear understandingofthegoalofsustainabledevelopment; (c)Aremeasurable,thatis,nomatterhowattrac tivethetheoreticalconstruct,ifanindicator cannotbemeasuredatreasonablecost,itisnot useful. Performanceauditsusingindicatorsandtargets Iftargetsandassociatedindicatorsarefoundor thoughttobetechnicallysound,comparisons betweenthemshouldrevealtheprogressthat hasbeenmade.Thescopeofauditcanbeas under: (a)Ifthedeadlineofthetargethasalready passed,anauditcansimplycommentonwhether thetargethasbeenachieved.Auditattentioncan shifttowardsexplainingwhythetargethasorhas notbeenachieved,orthecostandefficiencyof thepoliciesusedtoattainthetarget,oranyunin tendedconsequencesofthosepolicies (b)Ifthedeadlineisstillsomewayoff,thenan auditshouldfocusonwhetherthetargetislikely tobemetifcurrenttrendscontinue. IndicatorsIssuesforAuditor SAIswillneedtoaddressthefollowingissues: (a)RoleofAuditindevelopingindicators:should audittakeproactiveactionlikeGAOorreview themaftertheyhavebeendeveloped? (b)ShouldAuditreviewtheperformanceasre flectedinindicators (c)Shouldperformanceindicatorsbereviewedas partoffinancialaudit,particularlyiftheaudited entityadoptsresultsbasedbudgetinganddis closesinformationonperformanceindicatorsasa partoffinancialstatements? (d)Whatskillsareneededtoreviewindicators anddowehavethem? (e)Howmuchofrelianceshouldauditedentity andauditplaceonquantitativeperformance indicatorsvisavisqualitativeevaluations? (f)Shouldauditreviewtheprocessofdeveloping performanceindicatorsorcommentontherele vanceandappropriatenessoftheindicators? Howshouldaudittackletheproblemofpossible conflictingvalidationsofperformanceagainstnon financialindicatorsbydifferentexperts?

SomeUsefulLinks
MP Rural Livelihoods projects UP Govt orders and circulars Information on RTI of Bijnor district (Similar information in respect of other districts are also available) Independent Peoples Tribunal on the World Bank Group in India Website developed by the US Office of Management and Budget and Federal agencies to assess the performance of every Federal program Study Reports under NREGA State Institute of Rural Development, Mysore Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability http://www.mprlp.in/projectdoc.htm http://www.upgos.com/Index.htm http://bijnor.nic.in/departments/dptmnt.htm http://www.worldbanktribunal.org/issues.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/about.html http://www.nrega.net/pin/reports-and-resources/ http://www.sirdmysore.gov.in/ http://www.cbgaindia.org/

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From Field Offices PRIsinJharkhand|ExaminerofLocalAccounts,Jharkhand

StatusofPRIs:ThethreetierPanchayatsys temwasprovidedunderBiharPanchayatRaj Act1993butelectionswerenotheldtill2000. Lastelectionswereheldintheyear1978and allthethreetierlocalbodiesweredissolvedin 1997bytheHonbleSupremeCourt.Inthe meantime,aNewStateJharkhandwascre ated(Nov.2000)andanewActi.eJharkhand PanchayatRajAct2001wasenactedbythe StateGovernment.Theprocessforconductof electionwasinitiatedunderPanchayatExten sionforScheduleArea(PESA)Act,butthe electioncouldnotbeheldduetosomelegal implicationstilltheendof2009.Finally,a constitutionbenchoftheSupremeCourtup heldtheprovisionsofthereservationofseats ofchairpersonatallthreelevelsofthe Panchayatsinscheduledortribalareas.This decisiongavegreensignaltoPESAAct,1996 thatpavedthewayforPanchayatelectionin Jharkhand.Accordingly,electionstoPRIswere conductedafteragapof32yearsduringNov Dec2010. Devolutionof3Fs:Atpresent,StateGovern mentisplanningtodevolveonlysixfunctions outof29enlistedintheeleventhschedules relatingtoRuralDevelopment,HumanRe sourcesDevelopment,waterResources,social welfare,foodsupplyetc.alongwiththirteenth FinanceCommissionGrants. TrainingtoPRIsrepresentatives/officialsFor efficientfunctionofselfgovernance,Govt.is planningtoimpacttrainingto53207elected representatives.Themoduletobeusedfor trainingpurposehasbeenpreparedandsub mittedbytheconsultancyagencyAFCI,New DelhitotheGovernment.Eightmoduleshave beenpreparedthroughwhichelectedrepre sentativeswouldbemadeacquaintedwith executionoffunctionsenlistedintheeleventh scheduleandrunningofPanchayatadmini stration.Trainingwouldbeimpartedinthree phases. ArrangementforAuditofPRIsStateGovern mentdeclaredtheExaminerofLocalAc counts,Jharkhandasauditauthorityunder section137(1)ofJharkhandPanchayatRaj Act,2001.Atpresent,onlythefirsttwotiers ofPRIsareauditedandauditofGramPancha yatsisnotbeingconductedasthesewerenon functionalforwantelections.Recently,elec tionsofGramPanchayatshavebeencom pleted(December2010)andnotificationsare inprocessthatwouldpavethewayforaudit ofGramPanchayatsbytheExaminer

DainikBhaskar|24November2011

RegionalNews|AGGoa

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District Planning
SummaryofDistrictPlanunderBRGFforPalakkadDistrict,Kerala
PalakkaddistrictinKeralais famousforitsPalmyrahsand Paddyfields.TheCentrefor ManagementDevelopment, Thiruvananthapuramwasen trustedtheworkofpreparation ofdistrictplanofPalakkaddis trictforBRGFgrants.BRGF beingafundtoaddressthe backwardnessofthedistrict,a normativeformulawasdevel opedfortheallocationofBRGF betweenRuralandUrbanLocal SelfGovernments.Asperthe formula,thetotalfundwas dividedbetweenRuraland UrbanLocalSelfGovernmentsin theratioof94.86:5.14bygiv ingadditionalweightagetothe ruralpopulationofthedistrict. Theprovisionwasfurtherallo catedtoruralLSGsintheratio of50:40:10amongDistrict Panchayats,GramPanchayats andBlockPanchayats.Higher importancewasgiventoDistrict Panchayatstoenablethedistrict toidentifyprojectswhichhave morerelevanceintermsof DistrictPerspective. Forpreparationofplans,needs wereidentifiedatGPlevels throughparticipatorymethods andthenwereconvertedinto proposals/projects.Thefinancial resourcesfromBRGFwasutil isedbothasasupplementary andgapfillingresourcetomeet theinadequacyoffinancefor theoveralldevelopmentofthe district. Duringtheprocessofidentifyingthe activities/projectstoutiliseBRGFFund fortheoveralldevelopmentofthe districttomakeitatparwithother developeddistrictsofthecountry,the followingweaknessesweretakeninto consideration. Weightages for distribution of BRG fund in Palakkad
Indicators Weightage (%) Gram Panchayat 15 22 15 5 8 5 15

Block Panchayat 15 22 15 8 Nil Nil 25

Municipality 28 22 15 5 Nil Nil Nil

Total population Tribal population SC population Geographical area excluding area under forest Area under paddy Own income of GP Composite index of Agri. Labours, persons engaged in livestock, fisheries and marginal workers Composite index of backwardness: houses without latrine, electricity and water connection Illiteracy rate NREGA participation Number of Hospital beds Total

Palakkadisadroughtprone district Deterioratingirrigationfacilities Scarcityofdrinkingwater Inadequateinfrastructuralfacili tiesineducationsector,espe ciallyinHigherSecondaryEdu cation Inadequacyofinfrastructure facilitiesinthehealthsector Inadequateinfrastructurefacili tiesforwomenandchilddevel opment,especiallyAnganwadis Peoplewithoutsheltersbelong ingtogeneralBPLcategory Gapsinruralandurbanelectrifi cation Inadequatefacilitiesforcollec tionandtreatmentofsolid waste,especiallyinurbanareas

Nil

Nil

20

5 5 5 100

5 10 0 100

5 NA 5 100

Sector/Scheme

Basedontheaboveweightages,the detailsofworkstobeundertakenand thefundrequiredfordifferentschemes tobeimplementedin5years(FY08 FY12)areasalongside:

Agriculture Animal Husbandry Consultancy Drinking water supply schemes Fisheries Industries Infrastructure Irrigation Poverty Alleviation Power Training Total

BRGF Amount (Lakh Rs) 720.00 43.49 337.00 938.93 137.00 193.25 5323.62 631.46 360.00 530.75 49.50 9400.00

Number of works 13 4 14 53 5 4 159 25 4 15 8 311

NationalConferenceofChairpersons/CEOsofDistrictPlanningCommittees
ThenationalconferenceofChairpersons/CEOs ofDistrictPlanningCommitteeswasheldat VigyanBhawan,NewDelhiinJanuary2009. FollowingistheExecutiveSummaryofthe Conference: TheConferenceofChairpersonsofDistrict PlanningCommittees,organizedbytheMinistry ofPanchayatiRaj,sawthepresenceofdignitar iesincludingDrManmohanSingh,Honourable PrimeMinisterofIndia,ShriManiShankar Aiyar,UnionMinisterforPanchayatiRaj,andDr CRangarajan,MemberofParliament,Rajya Sabha. Severalseniorcentralandstategovernmentofficials,acade miciansandrepresentativesfrominternationalandnational developmentandnongovernmentalorganizations(NGOs) alongwithalargerepresentationofDistrictPlanningCom mittees(DPCs),discussedissuesofrelevancetotheDPCs, rangingfromtheprocessofplanning,financialallocation andempowermentofDPCs,totheirroleintheimplementa tionofnationalprogrammes. Article243ZDoftheConstitutionofIndiamandatesthe settingupofDPCsineverystate.TheDPCsareintendedto consolidatetheplanspreparedbythepanchayatsandthe municipalitiesinthedistrict,andtoprepareadraftdevelop mentplanfortheentiredistrict.However,theprogressin formationofDPCshavebeenslow,withonly19stateshav ingimplementedArticle243ZDintheright spirit. The73rdAmendmentoftheIndianConstitu tionpavesthewayforgrassrootsparticipa tioningovernanceandbringspeoples planningtotheforefront.Localself governancehasnotonlyenabledsocialand politicalempowermentbutalsoensured democratizationwithregularelectionsto localgovernments. Participatoryplanningiscrucialinextending theprocessofdecentralizationthrough localinstitutions.Thisrequiresacommit menttopanchayatirajandlocalself

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NationalConferenceofChairpersons/CEOsofDistrictPlanningCommitteesContinued
governance.Localplanningrequiresabottom upapproach,necessitatingthedevelopmentof asoundvisionatthecommunityandvillage levels.Italsorequiresaproactiveroleofthe locallevelinstitutionsattheplanningandim plementationstages. Implementationofnationallevelschemes whiletakingintoconsiderationthespecific regionalandlocaldisparities,atthelocallevel, canincreaseeffectivenessoftheseschemes. Humandevelopmentissuesoreconomicissues alsorequireplanningatthelocallevelforeffec tivemanagement. ThoughtheDPCsareexpectedtoconsolidate theoveralldistrictdraftplan,theystillhaveto covermuchground.DPCsneedtobestrength enedtoensuretheirdynamicroleintheplan ningprocess. Inthisdirection,theManualforIntegrated DistrictPlanninghasbeenpreparedbyaTask forceincludingrepresentativesfromtheMinis tryofPanchayatiRaj,MinistryofUrbanDevel opment,PlanningCommission,StateSecretar ies,representativesofNGOsandacademicians. TheManualsuggestsmappingofthedistrict dataandresources.Italsoadvocatestheroleof theDPCasaleaderintheprocessofformulat ingthevisionforthedistrict,withdistrictad ministrationandlinedepartmentscontributing asanintegralpartoftheenvisioningteam.The visionofthedistrictneedstobepreparedfor thelongtermandfiveyearperspectiveand annualplanswouldreflectthisvision.Conver genceofresources,processesandinitiativesis thekeytothesuccessoftheplanningprocess. Technologyaidstheprocessofplanningby providingtransparenttoolsforcollection,dis seminationandanalysisofdata.Judicioususe oftechnologyforallocationofresourcesisof paramountimportance,asitpreventsleakage andincreasesefficiency,thus,leadingtoim provedoutcomes. Tofacilitatedistrictplanningandmapping, specificinformationandcommunicationtech nology(ICT)toolsareavailable.Theseinclude PRIASOFTandPLANPLUSdevelopedbyMinis tryofPanchayatiRajandNationalInformatics Centre(NIC).EventuallyICTwouldhelpinre placingmanualworkingandalsoimprovethe qualityofplanningandimplementation. Inadequatesupportfortheplanningprocessis acauseforconcern.Lackofexpertiseatthe stateanddistrictleveltopreparetechnically andfinanciallysoundplanshasadirectimpact onthedistrictlevelplanningefforts.Analysisof baselevelindicatorsinhumanandeconomic developmentiscrucial,whichinturnnecessi tatescapacityenhancementanddevelopment oftechnicalsupportbase. Rigidityinpracticesoffundallocationalongwiththefail ureofthebottomupapproachinplanningtotakeroot, hassetbacktheplanningprocess.Strengtheningthisproc essatthedistrictandstatelevelwouldconsolidateand reinforcetheplanningprocessatthenationallevel. Itisalsoimperativethatpanchayatsstrengthentheirown resourcebase.Thiscouldbethroughtaxesorother sources.Thoughthereareprovisionsandfinancialalloca tionsforlocalgovernments,thesegovernmentsshould alsomakeeffortstowardsraisingtheirownresources. Accesstovariousavenuesofincomegenerationandprop ertytaxationcanstrengthentheirfinancialbase. Thegovernmentpolicysuggestssupportforplanningin backwarddistricts,althoughhandholdingandsimilarsup porttootherdistrictsisalsorequiredtobuildtheircapac ityinstrengtheningtheirresourcebasetoconsolidate effortstowardslocalselfgovernance.Sucheffortswould requirefinancialreformswithinlocalbodies,supportedby thepresenceoffinancialmanagementexperts,tofacilitate financialdecentralisationandmobilisationofresources.All theseeffortsshouldbemadenotwithstandingtheneed foradequatebudgetaryallocationtotheDPCsfortheir smoothfunctioning.TheStateGovernmentsandState FinanceCommissionscouldalsoconsiderincentivegrants forpanchayatsraisingtheirownresources. InthecontextofnationalflagshipprogrammeslikeJawa harlalNehruNationalUrbanRenewalMission(JNNURM),a synergyisrequiredintheeffortsatdifferentlevelsto identifymattersofcommoninterest.Thisnecessitatesthe DPCstoplayanactiveroleinlocatingareaswhichconcern thepanchayatsandthemunicipalities. Theneedtointegratespatialplanningwithdistrictplans hasrequiredtakingintoaccounttheavailableresourcesat everylevel.TheJNNURMprogrammefocusesamong otherthingsonurbaninfrastructureandimprovementof governance.ThisrequiresanactiveroleoftheDPCsinthe developmentofplansfortheruralandurbanareas. Similarly,CentrallySponsoredSchemes(CSSs)needtobe comprehensivelyunderstoodtobeintegratedwithother developmentschemesforthemtoshowcase effectiveconvergence.HeretooDPCscan playacrucialrole. TheDPCsneedtoconsolidateruralandurban planstoavoidconflictsbetweentheruraland urbanareas,forwhichrequisitesupport needstobeprovidedtothembywayof expertiseineconomicandspatialplanning, aswellas,forconsolidationandintegration ofplans. StateslikeKeralaentrustthelocalgovern mentswithonethirdofthestateplanre sources.Suchinstancesillustratethatlocal governmentscanplayacentralroleinplan ningwiththeDPCstakingontheroleofinte gratingtheselocalplansintotheentiredis trictplan. Conceptslikeparticipatoryplanning,conver genceandconsolidationofplans,essentially requireaclearunderstandingoftheprocess ofplanning.ThiswouldhelptheDPCmem bersindevelopingaclearunderstandingof theextentoftheirinvolvementandthepow ersavailabletothem.TheDPCshavetorec ognisethemselvesasanintegralpartofthe developmentandplanningprocesses.Along side,theyalsoneedtobeequippedwitha perspectiveofthelongtermvision,forthem toplayaneffectivepartintheplanningproc ess.Thus,capacitybuildinginallaspects concerningplanning,beitICTormanage mentoffinancialresources,isimperative, andDPCmembers,panchayatirajinstitutions (PRIs)andurbanlocalbody(ULB)members andstaff,linedepartmentofficialsetc.,need tobeeducatedabouttheirroleinparticipa torydecentralisedplanningandmonitoring sothatthecountryseesimprovedoutcomes fromthehumongousfinancialinvestmentin developmentplansinruralandurbanareas.

PimpriChinchwadcorporationterminatesdatabankplan|DNA|26January2011
ThecitizendatabankthatthePimpriChinch wadMunicipalCorporation(PCMC)starteda yearagohasfailedandthecivicbodyhas terminatedtheproject.ThePCMCstartedthe schemetocollectcontactdetailsofcitizens Thiswouldenablethecorporationtocontact themforvariousreasons.However,theinfor mationabouttheschemedidnotreachthe peopleandthedatabank,whichwastohold informationof13lakhpeople,containsonly 17names. ThecentralgovernmentsJawaharlalNehru NationalUrbanRenewalMission(JNNURM) hadaskedthecorporationtomaintainan onlinehelpdeskforthecitizensthroughthee governancescheme. Informationandformsrelatedtobirthanddeath,income tax,noobjectioncertificatesandconstructiondepartment, under25headsareavailableonline. Thecitizendatabankwaseasilypossiblewithallthese systemsinplace.Theauthoritiesmadethefacilityavailable onwww.pcmcindia.gov.in. PCMCcommissioner,AshishSharma,inauguratedthefacil ityayearandahalfago.Take9Services,afirm,wasgiven thecontracttosetupthefacility.However,therebeingonly 17namesinthebankafteroneandahalfyears,thecorpo rationdecidedtoterminatetheproject.Theauthorities haveclosedthelinkthatwaspreviouslyavailableonthe PCMCwebsite.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pimprichinchwadcorporation terminatesdatabankplan_1499286

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Astepforwardincitysanitationplanning|TimesofIndia|26January2011
MANGALORE:Mangalorecitytookastepfor wardtowardsformulationofacomprehensive citysanitationplan(CSP)asmandatedinthe recentlyreleasedNationalUrbanSanitation PolicybytheUnionministryofurbandevelop ment.AworkshoporganisedbytheAdminstra tiveStaffCollegeofIndia,HyderabadandCity ManagersAssociationKarnatakasensitised corporatorsontheneedforacitysanitation planandhowtogoaboutachievingit. CorporationcommissionerKNVijayaprakash saidthegoalofCSPistoachievetotallysani tizedhealthyandlivablecitiesandtownsandto enhancelivingstandardsofthecommunity.TheCorpora tionhasalreadysetupacitysanitationtaskforcethatis headedbythecommissioner.Thistaskforceisadedicated policybodythataddressessanitationissuesofthecityand mobilisesstakeholderstoelevateconsciousnessabout sanitation. SnehaMalaKesiraju,seniorresearchassociationofASCI, Hyderabadsaidthe13thFinanceCommissionhasrecom mendedthatallurbanlocalbodiestonotifyservicestan dardsrelatingtowater,sewerage,drainageandsolid wastesproposedtobeachievedduringthenextfinancial yearbeforeMarch31eachyear.TheULBsshouldpublish thestandardsinthestategazetteandputinplaceaplan fortheirachievement. TheCitySanitationPlanisa25yeartime frameapproachwithannualactiontodealing withthesanitationissues.Itisnotaplanfor infrastructureworks,shesaid,addingthatit entailscollaboratingwithstakeholdersto frameacomprehensiveCSP.Thecorporators laterdividedintogroupsanddiscussedis suespertainingtowater,solidwasteman agement,sewerageandslums.MayorRajani Duggannainauguratedtheworkshop.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Astep forwardincitysanitationplanning/ articleshow/7363222.cms

MinistryofPanchayatiRajaskStatestoSubmitAnnualPlanfor201112|PIB|11February2011
TheMinistryofPanchayatiRajhasaskedthe StatestosubmitAnnualPlanfor201112so thattimelyandregularflowoffundsthrough outtheyear201112andsmoothcompletion oftheprojectsundertakencouldbeensured.In alettersendtotheChiefSecretariesofallthe StatestheMinistryhasstressedthatsincethe BackwardRegionGrantFund(BRGF)isaplat formforconvergingCentral/Stateschemesandpooling diverseresourcesthroughtheprocessofbottomupinte gratedplanningforensuringbetteroutcomes,EachLocal BodyintheBRGFdistrictsshouldprepareitsAnnualAction whichistobeconsolidatedastheDraftDistrictPlanbythe DPCalongwithphysicalandfinancialprogressreportsof thegrantsreleasedearlierandsendittoMinistrythrough theStateGovernmentforreleaseoffundslatestbythe endofthismonth. Itmaybenotedthatduringthecurrentfinan cialyear(201011),the1stinstallmentof DevelopmentGrantofRs.3257.45croreout oftheEntitlementofRs.4420.00crorehas beenreleasedto238ofthe250BRGFdis tricts

Ministrypushesforrevisedcitydevelopmentplans|TimesofIndia|16February2011
PUNE:Theurbandevelopmentministry,whichhas comeoutwithastrategicplanforthenextfive years,wantsallJawaharlalNehruNationalUrban RenewalMission(JNNURM)citiesinclud ingPuneandPimpriChinchwadtopreparerevised citydevelopmentplans.Theministryhasobserved thatthepresentstateoftheisnotsatisfactoryand thatthestateofbasicserviceslikewatersupply, sewage,solidwastemanagement,urbantransport andhousinghastobeimproveddrastically. Explainingthebroadstrategyforthenextfive years,theministryhasstatedthatthethrustareas willbeprovisionofbasicurbaninfrastructural servicesincludingwatersupply,sewerage,solid wastemanagement,stormwaterdrainage,trans portandegovernance. Initsobservationsonurbantransport,thereport statedthatoutofthe85citieswithapopulationof fivelakhormore,only20citieshaveacitybus service.Mentioningthatthegovernmenthad announcedthenationalurbantransportpolicyin April2006,thestrategicplanstatesthattheminis trywillcontinuetoworktowardspromotionof appropriatepublictransportsolutionsinlinewith thepolicy. Incidentally,inPuneandPimpriChinchwadcom mutersgroupshavebeenhighlycriticalofthe municipalcorporationsandthegovernmentde partmentsfordelayingthepurchaseofJNNURMfundedbuses forthelasttwoyears. Theministryhasobservedthatprovidingsafeandadequate watertothemillionsofpeopleacrossthegrowingnumberof citiesisakeytaskfortheauthorities.Itstatesthattheurban watersupplyisbesetwithproblemsrelatingtocoverage,qual ity,pooroperation,maintenanceandsustainability.Citingthe 65thnationalsamplesurveyconductedfrommid2008tomid 2009,thereportstatesthatonly74percentoftheurbanpopu lationiscoveredwithpipedwatersupply.Alsocitingthesanita tionratingconductedfor423classonecities,thereportstated thatdrinkingwatersamplesfromonly39citiesqualifiedonall thethreebasictestsconductedtocheckwaterqualityatthe consumerend. Regardingthepoorstateofsolidwastemanagement,thestra tegicplanstatesthathardlyanyattentionwasgiventoscientific disposalofwaste.Similarly,manycitieslackeffectivestorm drainagesystemsandfaceproblemsduetoillegal,unplanned developmentandencroachmentsonnaturalareasanddrainage systems. Thestrategicplanstatesthattheministrywillcontinuewith theJNNURMoverthenextfiveyearswithafocusonunfinished agendaandtoincorporatethelearningduringtheimplementa tioninthelastfiveyears. Thecitieshenceforthwillnotonlyberequiredtoimplementthe mandatoryreforms,butalsoimplementthosereformswhich wouldbenecessaryforsustainabilityoftheprojectsselectedby thecity.Thecitieswillalsohavetochooseprojectswhichit wantstoundertakefromthefundsallocatedto them. Observingthattheinvestmentsrequiredfor improvingtheinfrastructuralfacilitiesarevey large,thestrategicplanhasstatedthatthe municipalcorporationsneedtomobilisereve nueattheirlevel.Thereportstatesthatthere areseveralconstraintswhichhamperthe effectiveuseofrevenueinstrumentslikeprop ertytax,buildinglicencefees,stampduty, advertisementfees,octroiandusercharges. Italsostatedthatthepropertytaxbaseis erodedsignificantlyduetopoorinformation baseandexemptionsgivenbystatesandmu nicipalcorporations.Thereportstatesthatfull potentialofpublicprivatepartnerships(PPP)is notusedbycities.ThePPPscanactasamajor resourcetobridgetherevenuegapinvarious developmentalactivities,headded. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/ Ministrypushesforrevisedcitydevelopment plans/articleshow/7504768.cms

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Decentralized Governance
DecentralizationCommunityIntroductionoflandtitlessystem
Thefollowingquerieswereraised: 1. Whatcouldbethelikelygainsforurban localbodiesthroughtheintroductionof thelandtitlessystem?Whatarethechal lengesthatshouldbeanticipatedinthe transitiontoatitlesystem? 2. Whatarethekeylearnings/lessonsthat haveemergedfromcities/statesthathave initiatedothermodernlandmanagement systemsorlandinformationsystemsfor urbanareas? 3. Whatarethelearnings/lessonsandim pactsfromrelatedJnNURMreformssuch ascomputerizationofregistration,ration alizationofstampdutieswherevercities havetakenastepaheadinthesereforms? 4. Whatarethetakeawaysfromrecent urbansurveys(notearlierthan56years) formaintaininglandrecords? 5. Arethereanystudies/projectsmeasuring theimpact(suchasincreasedformalland markettransactionsorformalsector lending)associatedwithperceivedor grantedsecurityoflandownership?Could yousharestudies/numbersshowingthe impactofambiguouslandrecordson urbangrowth,development,planning, socialfabric? SummaryofResponses RapidurbanizationinIndiahasalsobroughtout variousinadequaciesindealingwithit.One suchcaseisthelackofpropersystemofland titles.Theissueanditsseriousnessvaryfrom StatetoStateandsometimesalsovarieswithin thelocality.Localgovernmentshavetoplaya majorroleinstreamliningthissystem.The reformconditionalitiesinJawaharlalNehru NationalUrbanRenewalMission(JnNURM)also proposetheneedforthisaction.Members gavetheircommentsandsuggestionsonthe gainsforlocalbodiesaswellasthechallenges whileimplementingthelandtitlesreform. GainsforLocalGovernments Onapracticallevel,themajorgainforthelocal governmentwouldbetheclarityitwouldhave onhowmuchlandisavailablewiththegovern ment,theindividuals,vacantlandsthelocal governmentitselfhaswithit.Thisisexpected toreducetheillegalencroachmentonState andprivatelands.Moreover,theaccuracyof landtitlewillincreaserevenuetothelocal bodiesthroughpropertaxation.Members pointedoutthatthelocalgovernmentsgener allycollectholdingtaxeswhicharebasedupon themarketvalueofthebuildings/premises. Theydonotcollectlandtaxeswhichisgener allydonebytheLandRevenueDepartmentof StateGovernment.However,severalMunici palitiesinWestBengalhaveusedsatellitemappingto determinetaxdemandandalsohavebeenabletoraise moretaxcollection.Theothergainfromlandtitlesisin determiningthelandceilingandimplementingurbanland ceilinglawseffectively. Ifthereisaperfectedlandtitlesystem,itwillhelpthe urbanlocalgovernmentsinplanningandexecutingurban publicfacilitiesbecausemanytimeslitigationonland ownershipintheurbanareasduetomultipleclaimants overthelandhaveaffectedordelayedtheimplementa tionofsuchprojects. Challenges Thebiggestchallengeistoreconcilethedataoftheregis trationauthoritywithlandrecordsauthority.Inmany situationsthelandvaluationsystemisstillarchaic.Thatis whytechnologicallinkingoftheregistrationprocess,mu tationprocess,andredrawingthelandmapprocessis becomingdaunting,technologically,andalsoasaprocess ofreengineering. Inurbanareaslandvaluationdiffersfromstreettostreet, MahallatoMahalla.Thelandvaluationsystemisdesigned inawaythatcannotreflectthisreality.Italsogetscompli catedbecauselanddealsareneverfullytransparent,to avoidstampduty.Thisopaquenessscarespeopleaway fromsharingthecorrectinformationforlandtitles.The middlemeninsubregistrarofficeswouldbeanother challengetobedealtwith,alongwiththeinterestsofthe politicalparties. Inruralareasboundariesandridgestolandholdings(plots incadastralmaps)isalmoststatic,theremaybedivision duetoinheritanceandsale,butthatisinknowledgeofthe villagecommunity.Howeverthisisnotthecasewith urbanareas.Agriculturallandmighthavebeentrans formedintononagriculturalandthecharacteristicsofthe landitselfmighthavechanged.Henceitisdauntingtaskto decidelandtitleinmanyurbanpocketsespeciallywhere slumshavemushroomed. Learnings MemberssharedtheexperiencesfromOrissawherecom puterizationofregistrationoflandtransactioniscomplete. TheexperienceinOrissaisgoodinthisregardexceptthat inarapidurbanizationscenario,realestatevalueisin creasingeverydayandgovernment,people,buildersand landmafiaaresometimescombiningtocheatinstamp duties,sometimestherealownerisfaked.Governmentof WestBengalhasrecentlystartedimplementinginallmu nicipalareas,urbanlandsettlementprogrammeforland lesssquattersonurbanpublicland,inwhichlandtitlesto theextentof3decimalperfamilyaresettledinthename ofsquattersinpossessionandresidingfor20years.The challengehasbeenprovingthatthefamilyisinpossession for20years.Oraldepositions,rationcards,voterIDcards, etcareused. InWestBengaldigitizationoflandrecordscouldbedone withthehelpofMapsshowingeachplotandmouza, thankstolandmappingsystemthathasundergonemany changesfromthetimeoftheBritish.Thisrequiredspecial softwaredevelopedbyDirectorateofLandRecordsand Surveysthatcouldmeasureaccuratelytheplotsizein digitizedformats.Thescaleissuewasimpor tanttoo.AllMouzamapsarein16":1mile scalestill.Convertingthatinsq.ftwithaccu racythatreallymattersinurbansettlements becomesanissue. InOrissatheGovernmentLandRevenue Departmentinitsusualprocess (comprehensiveSurveyandSettlement, preparationofrecordsofrightsandcadastral mapsrevisedevery30years)isalsoprepar ingtherecordsandmapforurbanar eas.Wheretheurbanizationisrapidlikein Bhubaneswar,surveyoflandandupdatingof recordsandconferringtitleiscomplex andentangledinaviciouscircle. Forthetitlingsystemtobeefficient,equita ble,andtransparent,severalmeasuresare beingtakenunderNationalLandRecord ModernizationProgramme,thatinclude directtechnologicallinksofregistrationproc esswiththemutationprocess,digitisationof alllandrecordstotheplotandmouzalevel, landusemappingincludinglandclassification mapping,andlinkinglandmapandmutation document,makingsuchmapsanddocuments availabletocitizenatpublickiosks,sothat mapsearchandlandrecordsearchis open,accessible,andinpublicdomain. ExperiencesfromAhmedabadshowthatthe landtenurestatushasneverbeenconsidered asacontinuumfrominsecuretenuretoa legalstatus.Ingeneral,thepoorinthecities movefrominformaltoquasilegal(defacto) tenurethroughvariousprocessesandthento legaltenure(dejure)incasesofapublic policyinterventionthatconferspropertytitle onthem.Intheabsenceofsuchapolicy,the urbanpoorandlowincomemigrantscan seektoconsolidatetheirurbancitizenship throughpoliticalcitizenshipinanelectoral democracy,throughwelfareinterventionsby thestateandaboveall,throughtheirown subversionsofurbanlegalities.Astudyon thisshowsthatthroughsmallpublicactions, itispossibletoimproveaccessoftheurban poortosocialprotectionmeasuresandthatit isnotnecessarytoleapfrogtoextending propertyrightstothedwellersoftheseinfor malsettlements. Membersalsoemphasizedthatitisessential torealizethatiflandtitlesaregivenina societywhereotherrightsarenotpresent, thepoorwillnotbeabletoretainthem. Moreover,thelandtitlesissuehastobe consideredtogetherwithissuesliketheinse curity,market,priceincreaseofpropertyon legaltitling,heterogeneityofIndiancitiesand theinadequaciesofthecurrentlandlegisla tionandtownplanninglegislation

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Hyderabadgovernswith24x7candidcamera|IndianExpress|24February2011
Evenasthewrongdoingsinthetelecomsector generateangeranddismay,Hyderabadscity governanceinitiativeusingmobilephonespro videsabreathoffreshaironwhatthetelecom revolutioncandoforIndia.TheOffSiteReal TimeMonitoring(OSRT)systemisauniquebut simplemobilebasedITinitiativewhichusesa combinationofGPS(GlobalPositioningSystem) andGPRS(GeneralPacketRadioServices)tech nologiesthroughcellphonesformanagingcivic amenitiesinthecityinatransparentandefficient manner. Untilafewmonthsago,citizenshadtocallor makevisitstothecorporationsofficestoget theirgrievancesaddressed.OSRThaschangedit all,atleastinrespectofsomeservices,andit promisestodomuchmore.TheGPRStechnology allowscellphonestocapturerealtimeimagesof publicservantsatworkorpublicsitesunder inspection,withthedateandtimeofthepicture aswellasthestampoflatitudeandlongitude alongsidetheimage,superimposedonaGoogle maplayer.Theseimagesareinstantlytransmit tedtoacentralserver.Mostimportantly,they areimmediatelyavailableinthepublicdomain, allowingcitizenmonitoring.Theyruleoutdiscre tioninreporting,therebymakingscientificcross verificationpossible.Theuseofvisualimages builtonanopensourceinterfacelikeGoogle mapsishighlycosteffective. WesawOSRTatworkinsolidwastemanagement onthestreetsofHyderabad.In1995,theGreater HyderabadMunicipalCorporation(GHMC)had outsourcedthecollectionofgarbagetoprivate contractors.Thecontractorsprivateworkforce collectsgarbagefromdoortodoorandbringsit tothedumperbinsfromwhereitistakentothe transferstations.Thecorporationhastherespon sibilityoftransportingthegarbagefromthe transferstationstothemaindumpyard.Earlier, thestatusofthe4000binsandattendanceofthe 16,000publichealthworkersweremonitored manuallybysanitarysupervisorsofthecorpora tionatabout200locationsacrossthecity.With theintroductionofOSRT,thesupervisoruseshis cellphonetotakethepicturewhentheworkersshowupfor work,anduploadsitontheGHMCserver. Thejoyandprideonthefaceoftheyoungsupervisorwith highschooleducationwhowasshowingusaroundhadtobe seentobebelieved,asheclickedthepicturewithhiscell phoneandexplainedtoushowthedatahadinstantlybeen receivedbytheserverlocatedinBangalore.Hehadrecorded theattendanceandalsothestateofthebin.Thesamepro cedureisrepeatedattheendofthedayswork.Theresults arethereforalltosee.Theattendanceofworkershasgone upfrom85percentto98percent,anddumperbinliftingfor transportingtotransferstationshasincreasedfrom76per centto98percent.Onlinemonitoringofparksandstreet lightsisalsobeingdonethroughOSRT. Whencitizensregisteracomplaintaboutanunclearedgar bagebinorafaultystreetlightthroughSMSfromtheirmo bilephones,themessagegoestotheconcernedofficerand thewardcorporator.Onrectifyingthefault,thestatusis uploadedandthereportispostedonline;thecomplaint resolutionmessageiscommunicatedtoboththecitizenand thewardcorporator.Allcomplaintshavetobeattendedto within48hours,andtherehasbeenasignificantreductionin customergrievances. ThecorporationhashiredeightMBAgraduatesascoordina torstoconductdetailedanalysesofthedatafromtheserver andsubmitreportsonthestateofservicedelivery.M.Rajes waraRao,theadditionalcommissioner(IT)oftheGHMC, proudlydeclaresthistobethefirstrealtimeurbangovern ancemonitoringsysteminthecountryatanylevelofgovern ment. Penaltiesforviolationssuchasshortageinattendance,non liftingofgarbage,unsweptroadsanddelays,aredeductedat sourcefromtheamountduetothecontractor.Thethreatof penaltyassuresthattheprivatecontractorsmanagethe systemwithmaximumefficiency.Itisdifficulttodesign equallyeffectivesystemsofpenaltywhichwillgeneratesuch efficientresponsesinthepublicsector,buttheroleofover sightbygovernmentandthecommunityisextremelyimpor tant.ThecorporationnowplanstointegrateOSRTwith backendITinfrastructuretobuildinfeaturessuchassystem generatedpenalties.AsSameerSharma,thecommissioner oftheGHMC,putsitTheOSRTreliesontheeye,alittle usedfeatureofthemobilephonetobringaboutrealtime accountability. Hyderabadcitysinnovationingrantingbuildingpermissions, whichareadenofcorruptioninmostcities,is evenmoreimpressive.Thebuildingpermis sionsprogrammewasbroughtunderOSRTin November,2010.Ofthe1000applications receivedsincethen,95percenthavebeen disposedof.Permissionsforbuildingsupto15 metresheight(groundfloorplusfourfloors, exceptmultistoreybuildings)aregivenwithin fourdays.Upto80percentoftheapplications areinthiscategory. Realtimeimagesaretakenevery15daysat differentstagesofconstructiontocheckfor compliancewithsanctionedplans.Resistance istobeexpected,butabeginninghasbeen made.InKukutpalliinthewestzoneofthe GHMC,demolitionofunauthorisedconstruc tionwasbeingcarriedoutonthedaywevis itedthecity.Theillegalconstructionhadbegun afewmonthsagoandthemobilegovernance systemhadfounddeviationfromthesanc tionedplansbyagroupofprivatebuilderswho hadpurchasedsomeplotsintheAndhra PradeshHousingBoardcolony.Thecorpora tionhaddemolishedabout5percentofthe unauthorisedconstruction,butsuddenlydem olitionswerestoppedandnegotiationsseemed tobeontheagendatodeterminethepenalty. Themediumofpublicprivatepartnershipis beingusedbythecorporationinattempting innovativewaysofdeliveringpublicservices.A singlevendorwasselectedthroughacompeti tivebiddingprocessforenablingmobile phonestobeusedformonitoringurbanser vices,andthecontractonBOTbasiswas awardedtoBlueFrogMobileTechnologies PrivateLimitedforaperiodofthreeyears.The designandmaintenanceofthesystemhas beenoutsourcedtotheprivateparty.Thepilot commencedinAugust2010,andtherollout includedmeetingswithstakeholders,and detailedstudyoftheexistingadministrative andmonitoringsystems. ThecorporationhasinvestedRs48lakhonthe softwarepackageandRs15lakhoncell phones.TheGHMCalsopaysRs2lakhper monthasrentalchargesforGPRSconnectivity. Thecorporationsrolehasbeeninproviding theenablinginfrastructureincludingcell phones.Itchargesmonthlyrentalsforuseof thecellphonesbyprivatecontractorsengaged insanitationservices.Todate,Rs24lakhhas beenrecoveredfromcontractorsbillsbyway ofrentals.TheGHMChasalsocollectedRs27 lakhasfinesforshortageinattendance,non liftingofdumperbinsandunsweptroads. Mobilephonesarealreadybeingusedina numberofmunicipalcorporationsforbetter publicservicedelivery.Hyderabadhasgonea stepforwardbytrackingrealtimeimagesto monitorthedeliveryofpublicservices.Innova tionwillbeoursalvationasitforcesthegov ernmenttogovern. AhluwaliaisthechairpersonofICRIERandchair ofthehighpoweredexpertcommitteeon urbaninfrastructure.Nairisaconsultanttothe committee.Viewsarepersonal

|DainikBhaskar|6February2011
. , , , , , : ,

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continued
- , , : , - - , , , -: - : - , , : , , , : : : , : : , : , , , : : 25 : : , , , 25 : : 50 : () : , : , http://www.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JODdevelopment-of-the-citys-dream1824199.html

Only42%spendingtillDecember31|Hindu|23January2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Althoughjustone morequarterremainsforthecloseofthecur rentfinancialyear,theStateappearstohave slippedinmeetingitsPlantargetsforthelast threequarterswiththePlanspendingremain ingbelow50percentasonDecember31, 2010. AccordingtothemonthlyPlanreviewcon ductedbytheStatePlanningandEconomic AffairsDepartment,basedonreportsreceived tillJanuary11from90outofthe160imple mentingofficers,PlanspendinguptoDecem ber31,2010,cametoonly42percentofthe totalStatePlanoutlayofRs.10,025crore,the actualamountbeingRs.4,213.87crore. TheexpenditureuptotheendofNovember wasRs.3,708.79crore,representing37percent oftheoutlay.TheStatewasexpectedto achieveaPlanspendingof70percentofthe totaloutlaybyDecember31. Localbodiesfarebadly ThelocalbodiestoohavenotfaredwellinPlanspending. OutofRs.2,197.65croreallocatedtothelocalself governmentinstitutionsintheStatePlan,thelocalbodies couldspendonlyRs.716.59crore(35percent)asonDe cember31. ThegovernmenthadearmarkedRs.2.050croreforthelocal bodiesinthe2010'11budget.Thegovernmenthadde ductedRs.147.65crorefromthisasunspentbalanceand keptRs.4.35croreasunallocatedfundstoprovidespecial incentivetothebestlocalselfgovernmentinstitution. Whilethegramapanchayatsandmunicipalitiesutilised39 percentoftheallocatedamountbyDecember31,theshare ofblockpanchayatswas40percentandthatofdistrict panchayats36percent. Worstperformers Theworstperformershavebeenthemunicipalcorpora tions,whichtogetherutilisedjust27percentofthealloca tiontillthecloseofthelastcalendaryear. Theimplementationofexternallyaided projectsalsohasleftmuchtobedesired withtheutilisationoffundsbeingabare27 percent.Outofthetotaloutlayof Rs.1,216.48crore,thetotalamountspent tillDecember31wasRs.324.04crore. Foodsecurityscheme Thesamewasthecasewiththe11schemes forfoodsecurityforwhichthetotaloutlay cametoRs.111.07crore.Thetotalexpendi tureonthiscounttillDecember31was Rs.33.97crores(31percent). http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/23/ stories/2011012360410100.htm

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Trainingprogrammeforvillagewater 1,500specialteachers'jobslyingvacant|TimesofIndia|28January2011 committeemembers|TimesofIndia |26January2011 theneedforsettingupoldagehomesforthe NAGPUR:Whilethousandsofpassoutsfromeducation

ALLAHABAD:UndertheSwajaldharapro gramme,districtadministrationisorganisinga twodayresponsibilityanddutytrainingcamp forthepresidentsandtreasurersof grampotablewaterandsanitarycommitteeat VikasBhawanhereonJanuary27and28. Presidentsandtreasurersofthecommittee from82villagesofAllahabadandeightvillages ofKaushambiwillparticipateinthecamp. DistrictdevelopmentofficerRCPandeysaidthe presidentsandtreasurersof45grampancha yatswouldbeimpartedtraininginthecamp. Swajaldharaprogrammehasbeenstartedto improvedrinkingwatersupplyintheruralparts ofthecountry. Thekeyelementsoftheschemeincludede manddrivenandcommunityparticipation approach;panchayats/communitiestoplan, implement,operate,maintainandmanageall drinkingwaterschemes;partialcapitalcost sharingbythecommunitiesupfrontincash;full ownershipofdrinkingwaterassetswithgram panchayats;andfulloperationandmainte nancebytheusers/panchayats.Theunique featureoftheschemeisthattheruralfolks shouldfeelastheownersofthescheme. Beneficiarygroups,grampanchayatsandblocks adoptingthereformsprinciplesareeligiblefor Swajaldharaprojects. Providingwatersupplyfacilitiesinschoolsand uncovered,partiallycoveredandwaterscarcity habitationsandrevivaloftraditionalwater sourcestoensuredrinkingwatersustainability canalsobeimplementedunderSwajaldhara programme. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ allahabad/Trainingprogrammeforvillage watercommitteemembers/ articleshow/7362236.cms schoolsfinditdifficulttogetasuitableemploymentand areoftenexploitedbywayofunderpaymentbyschool managements,thereare1,500vacanciesofspecialteach erslyingvacant.Thesevacanciesareinspecialschools meantfordisabledandhandicappedstudentsunderthe SarvaShikshaAbhiyan,acentralschemetopromotequal ityeducation. Thiswasoneofthefactsthatcametoforeduringathree dayworkshopon'Qualityenhancementworkshopfor specialteachers'thatbeganinthecityonThursday.Young MPandNCPleaderSupriyaSuleguidedparticipantsofthe workshopwhocamefromalloverthestate.Seenaspoliti calheirtoherfatherandNCPsupremoSharadPawar, Supriyaiscompletelyateaseingrassrootssocialwork activitiesandiscoordinatorofYeshwantraoChavan Pratishthan'sApangHakkVikasManch(Disabledempow ermentcentre). "Wetrytoraiseissuesrelatedtotherightsofdisabledat differentlevelsinthestateandthecentralgovernment andcoordinatewithdifferentagenciesinimplementing welfareschemesinsuchawaythatthebenefitsreachthe targetedgroupsofthedisabled,"shesaid,talkingtore portersaftertheworkshop'sfirstdayproceedings.Experts frommedicalfield,administratorsandsocialworkerswill beguidingthevolunteerstosensitisethemonvarious aspectsofworkingwiththedifferentlyabledpeoplefor thenexttwodays. "Thereisadearthofspecialteachersmeantforspecial studentssufferingfromautism,cerebralpalsyandmultiple disabilities.Moreover,lackofinformationandco ordinationwithavailableskilledteachershasalsoledto thevacancieslyingunfilled,"saidVijayKanhekar,co coordinatorofVikasManch.Hedisclosedthatalarge numberofpostsofthe3%jobreservationforthehandi cappedcategoryingovernmentofficesalsoremained vacantforyears."Infact,theexactnumberofsuchvacan ciesisalsonotknown.Thematterislingeringinthecourt anditisbelievedthatofthe22,000suchjobs,only17,000 vacancieshavebeenfilled.So,atleast5,000needydis abledaredeprivedofjobsbecauseofslowandbureau craticprocedures,"healleged. Thepratishthanhasalsotakenupwiththegovernment mentallyretardedwhohavenoonetolook after.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/1500 specialteachersjobslyingvacant/articleshow/7375585.cms

Developmentrulesforsmallercities |IndianExpress|6February2011
UrbanDevelopmentDepartmentdraftspro posal,tobeputupbeforeChiefMinister PrithvirajChavansoon Thestategovernmentplanstointroduce developmentcontrolrulesinsmallermunici palcouncilstocontrolthehaphazardgrowth ofcities.Theurbandevelopmentdepartment hasdraftedaproposaltoapplytherules, nowapplicabletomunicipalcorporationsin bigcities,tosmallercitiesaswell. Thedistrictcollectorisnowinchargeof developmentinsmallertownswhilethe developmentcontrolruleswillallowuseof additionalfloorspaceindex(FSI)bycouncils inruralareas.Theproposalwillsoonbeput upbeforeChiefMinisterPrithvirajChavanfor approval. Theurbandevelopmentdepartmentwants toextendthebenefitsofFSI,transferof developmentrights(TDR)andclusterdevel opmenttosuchpartsofthestatebyintro ducingthedevelopmentcontrolrules.There arenormsthatcanbesetintermsofbuild ings,roadsandparkingintownsandvillages. Itisrequiredforplanneddevelopmentas evenvillagesareexperiencingrapidgrowth, aseniordepartmentofficialsaid.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Developmentrules forsmallercities/746617

People'sroleiskeytocity'sgrowth:expert|TimesofIndia|28January2011
BANGALORE:It'snotaboutmoneyorthenum berofprojects.Involvingpeopleinplanning anddevelopmentofacityisthekey.Thiswas thecruxofadebateanddiscussiononurban reformsatMunicipalika2011,thethreeday internationalconferenceandexhibitionthat startedhereonThursday.Expertsbrainstormed effectivesolutionstoRs.makingcitieswork'. Thepilottechnicalsessionfocussedonthe muchdebatedurbanreformprojectJawaharal NehruNationalUrbanRenewalMission (Jnnurm).Lackofthecommonman'sparticipa tionwasoneofthemajorflawsobservedin implementationofprojectsunderthisscheme acrossthenation."Onlyafewcitieshavemadeprogress. MostsignedtheMoUwithoutunderstandingthescheme. Result:Afterfiveyears,only87projectshavebeenimple mentedoverall,"saidMukeshMathurfromNationalInsti tuteofUrbanAffairs. Goingbytheaamaadmi'sview,theBangalorepictureisno better."Whateverisonpaperisgood,butwhatwego throughandseeatgroundzeroistotallydifferent.Whois monitoringallthese?"askedanangrysoftwareengineer fromWhitefieldwhohadtobravetrafficbottlenecksto reachthevenue. NEWURBANPOLICY UrbandevelopmentministerSSureshKumarsaidthestate isreadywithitsnewurbanpolicywithavisionforthenext 30years."Thefinaldraftisexpectedtobeapprovedatthe nextcabinetmeeting." Onpublicinvolvementinframingthispol icy,hesaid:"Ithasalltheessentialstoplan acityforitsinhabitantsandhasbeen framedafteraseriesofpublicdiscussionat variousforums.Also,thedraftwaspub lishedonthewebsiteforpublicviewing." However,thispolicyisprimarilyframedfor tierIIandtierIIIcities."SomepartofBan galorewillalsobecoveredbythispolicy," headded.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/ Peoplesroleiskeytocitysgrowthexpert/ articleshow/7375163.cms

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Implementation of Schemes
Ensuringchildrenlearnachallenge|Livemint| 17February2011
Budget2011isallsettogiveelementaryeducationasignificantboost.Media reportsindicatethehumanresourcedevelopment(HRD)ministryisseekinga budgetofRs.34,000croreforimplementingtheRighttoEducationAct(RTE).This isasignificantjumpfromlastyear'selementaryeducationallocationofRs.22,667 crore,ofwhichRs.15,000crorewasallocatedtotheSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(SSA), theprimaryvehiclefordeliveringRTE. Thereislittleargumentthatmoremoneyisneededifschoolsaretocomplywith RTEnorms.Thechallengeliesinensuringthismoneyisspentefficientlyand effectivelytoensurethatchildrenactuallylearn.AndifthereisonelessonthatSSA affordsus,itisthatthebusinessasusualmodelissimplynotgoodenough.Here's why. Tobeginwith,aswereportedinthisserieslastyear,significantportionsofSSA fundsremainunspent.Expenditurehasseensomeimprovementin200910,83% ofSSAfundswerespent,animprovementfrom70%expenditurein200809 (expenditureincludesunspentmoniesfrompreviousyears).Butfora10yearold programme,thispersistentunderspendingisasignofinefficiency. Moreover,delaysarerampant.Forthelasttwoyears,mycolleaguesandIhave beentrackingreceiptandexpenditureofSSAgrantsatschoolsthroughaproject calledPAISA.AnnualsurveysareconductedbetweenOctoberandDecemberevery yearhalfwaythroughthefiscalyear.Amere50%oftheschoolsinvolvedreported receiptoffundsatthetimeofthesurvey.Thisimprovestoabout80%byMarch end,suggestingmoneymovesslowlythroughthesystemandreachesschoolsat theendofthefiscalyear. NosurprisethenthatthebulkofSSAexpenditureoccursinthelastthreemonths oftheyear.Latearrivalofmoneyresultsinschoolsrushingtoincurexpenditureto meetreportingdeadlines,withoutgivingadequateconsiderationtotheirneeds andplans. Theresult:moneygetsspentpoorlyandoftenremainsunspent. Pouringmoremoneydownthisinefficientsystemwithoutaddressingthedelays willonlyexacerbatethistrend.Anotherstructuralproblemwiththebusinessas usualSSAmodelistheweakplanningarchitecture.Bydesign,SSAbudgetary allocationsaremadeonthebasisofannualworkplans.Theprocessbegins,atleast notionally,withschoolplansthatgetaggregatedatthedistrictand,finally,the statelevel.Theobjectiveistoensurethatplansandsubsequentexpenditure allocationsreflectschoolneedsandpriorities. Ironically,despiteamovetowarddecentralizedplanning,Centralgovernment planningguidelinesallowlittleroomforflexibilityanddefacto,plansremain centralized.Here'saninterestingexample. SSAintroducedaninnovationfundthatprovidesaRs.1croregrantatthedistrict level.Buttheschemeformulatedguidelinesthatnarrowlydefineinnovationinto computereducationhalfthefundsaremeantforpurchasingcomputers,girl's educationandearlychildcare,amongothers.Asaresult,ifadistrictwantstouse itsinnovationfundtoimprovetraining,introduceapedagogicalexperimentor evenmonitorschools,itcan't.Interestingly,computersarerarelyfoundinschools. AccordingtothelatestAnnualStatusofEducationReport(ASER)report,92%prima ryschoolsdonothavecomputersandthisisoneofthereasonsthatcountrywide only61%ofinnovationfundswerespentin200910. Thiscentralizationpervadesallthewaydowntoschools,whererigidfunding guidelinesdetermineboththequantumoffundsthatoughttoreachaschooland howthismustbespent.Soschoolshavelittleflexibilityinallocatingresourcesto schoolspecificpriorities,reducingschoolplanningtoafictionalexercise. Therearetwoconsequencesofthisdefactocentralization.One,thatcentralization createsdisincentivesforcreativeplanningand,asaresult,planninghasbecomea mechanicalannualtopupoffunds,onewhichdoesn'taccountforfinancialper formanceandschoolneeds.Inefficienciesofoneyearsimplytransferontothe next.Second,statesthatdoinnovatePunjabrecentlyintroducedvariousefforts toimproveoutcomesandBiharhassignificantlyimproveditsenrolmentdoso eitherbyadoptinglowcoststrategiesorbyfindingalternativefinancialstreams.As aresult,SSAexpenditurehasalimitedimpact. Howcantheplanprocessbestrengthened?Theanswerliesinaradicaloverhaulof thecurrentmodeltoonethatinvestsinplanningcapacityatthegroundlevel. Greaterflexibilityiskeybutequally,plansneedtobemadeonthebasisofclearly definedgoalsratherthancentralizedplanningguidelines.Thisrequiresstrongstate leadership.Second,plannersneedtohaverealtimeinformationaboutannual expenditureandlearninglevels.So,agreaterinvestmentintrackingandreporting isessential. Aboveall,ifplansaretoresultineffectiveexpendituretheyneedtobebottomup. Schoolsneedtobegenuinelyempoweredtodemandresourcesandallocatethem basedontheirpriorities.RTE,withitsprovisionsforschoolmanagementcommit teestaskedwithmakingschooldevelopmentplans,isanopportunitytodojust this. Focusedinvestmentsonempoweringschoolcommitteesistheonlywaytoalter thebusinessasusualmodelofsimplyincreasingbudgetswithoutaddressingkey structuralproblems.OnlythenwilltheproposedBudgetexpansionforelementary educationresultintherighttoeducationbeingrealized. (DatacollectedandanalysedbyAvaniKapurandAnirvanChowdhury) YaminiAiyarisaseniorresearchfellowanddirectoroftheAccountabilityInitiative oftheCentreforPolicyResearch

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ChildNutritionanareaofconcern|Livemint| 18February2011
Respondtothiscolumnatfeedback@livemint.comMuchofthecurrentdebateonthe NationalFoodSecurityBillhasfocusedonthePublicDistributionSystem.Crucialasthis is,theBill'svisionoffoodsecurityaimstoaddresswidernutritionalconcernsincluding maternalandchildnutritionandnotjustthroughPDSbutthroughexistingprogrammes suchastheMidDayMealScheme(MDMS)andIntegratedChildDevelopmentServices (ICDS).Performanceontheseschemesthusmeritsurgentattention. Let'stakeICDSfirst,orratherthelackofit.Inanoverallenvironmentofpoorquality data,ICDSstandsoutforbeingparticularlybad.ReportingonICDSbudgetsandexpen dituresisparticularlyhaphazardandsporadic.Crucially,asignificantportionofICDS fundscomesfromstatecontributionsthataredifficulttoascertain.Evenparliamentary questionscouldnotunearththisdata.Reportsonnutritionalstatustoohavesimilar anomaliesmakingitdifficulttotrack.Undoubtedly,thefirststeptoensuringICDS entitlementsistoimprovethequalityofmonitoringandinformationavailable.Butwe cangleansomebroadtrends.DatarevealssignificantdeficitsinICDSimplementation shockingforaschemethathasbeenaroundsince1975.Theprogrammesuffersfroma severehumanresourcecapacitygapwhichrequiresurgentattentionifentitlementsare tobeprovided.AnganwadicentresmanagedbyanAnganwadiworker(AWW)and helperarethemainstayoftheICDSprogramme.While84%ofIndiahastherequired number(sanctionedbytheUniongovernment)ofoperationalcentres,theyarenotwell staffed:78%ofthesehaveAWWsinposition.InstatessuchasUttarakhand,thisgoes downto45%.ExistingAWWsarealsooverworked.Whenmeasuredonthebasisof AWWstoenrolledchildren,onaverageoneAnganwadiworkerlooksafter33pre schoolchildreninIndia.Thereareextremevariations.Himachal,forinstance,hasnine childrenperAWWandUPhas65childrenperworker.Ofcourse,inpractice,AWWsare handlingfarfewerchildrenasattendanceisnotveryhigh;butevenifhalftheenrolled childrenturnup,theAWWwillhavedifficulties.Thehumanresourcedeficitiscom poundedbythefactthatAWWsareloadedwithnonICDSduties,andsalaryandother paymentsforrunningthecentresaredelayed.ThatICDSisadisasterisawell acknowledgedtruth. EventhePrimeMinisterhasrepeatedlytalkedofICDSreforms.Butpreciselywhat thesereformsareremainsunclear,andifthereisonethingthisdatashows,itisthat nothingshortofaradicaloverhaulisneeded. TheMDMSprogrammehasarelativelybettertrackrecord.Budgetaryallocationsand expendituresareimproving.In200910,amere6%MDMSfundsremainedunspent comparedwith20%in200708.Betterstill,childrenarebeingfed.ThelatestAnnual StateofEducationReport,orASER,showsthat83%oftheschoolsacrossthecountry wereservingMDMSmealsatthetimeofthesurvey.Butcorruptionandqualityare seriousconcernsparticularlybecauseofthelackofoversightandmonitoringmecha nisms.Everyday,headlinespointtostoriesofleakageandpilfering.Thegoodnewsis somestatesarebeginningtoinnovatewithmechanismstoreducecorruptionandthese holdimportantlessons. TamilNadu(TN)hasintroducedvariousinnovationstostrengthendelivery,including settingmonitoringtargetsforlocalofficialsanddeliveringfoodgrainsdirectlyto schools.UP,too,seemstobetakingstepstowardsintroducingmonitoringinnovations includingtheuseofmobilephonetechnologiestoensurethatmealsarebeingserved inschools. Monitoringapart,UP'soverallexperiencewithimplementingMDMSisinteresting. Cookingcosts(expensesofingredients,fueletc.)accountforabout52%shareofthe MDMS.ThesecostsaresharedbetweentheCentralgovernmentandthestates.UP, usuallyalaggardwhenitcomestodevelopmentschemes,increaseditscookingcost allocationfromRs.3.63perchildperdayin200809toRs.4.20in200910tocomein secondafterTNaleaderinimplementingMDMS.Interestingly,italsospent85%of this,andisreportedtohaveprovidedmealsto83%ofitstargetsuptoDecember2009 thesearecalculatedonthebasisofthenumberofmealsactuallyservedandthe numbersplannedatthestartofthefiscal.ComparethiswithBiharwhichmet59%, andKeralawhichachieved80%oftheirtargets.Thereasonsforthisimprovedperform anceandthegroundlevelaccuracyofthesenumbersneedfurtherinvestigation.But recentnewspaperreportsseemtoindicatethatthestateisbeginningtoimprove implementationbyintroducinginnovativemonitoring,includingtheuseofmobile phonetechnologies. ButthegreatestlessonthatstateexperiencesaffordisthatMDMSoughttohave greaterflexibilitytoensurestatespecificneedsareaccountedforandwastage reduced.TNregularlyreceivedfundsforbuildingkitchensheds.Butitdoesn'tneed thesefundsasover96%(ASERfigures)schoolsalreadyhavethesesheds.So,this money,whichcouldhavebeenallocatedtoanotherstate,oradifferentactivityspecific tothestate,goesunspent.In200809,amere13%ofkitchenshedfundswerespent. Greaterflexibilityandgreatermonitoringwithcommunityinvolvementcouldgoalong waytowardsimprovingtheprogramme. AfinalwordoncastediscriminationinMDMS.Proponentsoftheprogrammerightly arguethatitcanplayaroleinerodingcastediscriminationaschildrenofdifferent backgroundshavetoshareamealtogether. ButastudybyThoratandLeeofdiscriminationfacedbyDalitstellsadepressingtale. About52%ofrespondentsinRajasthan,24%inAPand36%inTNreportedcaste discrimination.About48%reportedoppositiontoDalitcooksand31%reportedthat Dalitchildrenweremadetositapartfromdominantcastechildrenatmealtimes.In somecases,teachersshowedfavouritismbytreatinguppercastechildrenpreferentially andreservingsmallerportionsforDalitchildren.Shockingforacountrythatclaimsto havearrivedontheglobalstage.
(Datacollected,analysedbyAvaniKapurandAnirvanChowdhury.)YaminiAiyarisaseniorresearch fellowanddirectoroftheAccountabilityInitiativeoftheCentreforPolicyResearch.

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SanitationStoryamixofhits,misses
AsofFebruary2011,31%ofruralhouseholdsinIndiadonothavetoilets.A2008Unicef studypointsoutthatamere21%ofruralIndiausesimprovedsanitationfacilities.But sanitationisnoone'spriority.Lastyear,IndiaspentRs.1,422crore,or0.02%,ofitsgross domesticproduct(GDP),ontheTotalSanitationCampaign(TSC),thegovernmentof India'sflagshipprogramme.ThislimitedexpenditurecostsIndiaheavily.Arecentstudyby theWaterandSanitationProgramoftheWorldBankestimatesthatinadequatesanitation costsIndiatheequivalentof6.4%ofitsGDPduetocostsassociatedwithdeathand disease,accessingandtreatingwaterandlossofworkamongothers. Nowthegoodnews!Despiteitsdisastrousrecordandmisplacedpriorities,thereismuch tobelearntfromIndia'ssanitationpolicy. Tobeginwith,itcanbecreditedasoneoftheonlysocialsectorprogrammestohave recognizedthelimitationsofaninfrastructuredrivenpolicyapproachtoiletbuildingin thisinstanceandattemptedtoshiftfocusbyintroducingaperformancedriven,outcome orientedprogramme.CrucialtothisshiftwastheintroductionoftheNirmalGramPu raskar(NGP)in2003,anincentiveschemethatoffersrewardsofuptoRs.50lakhto panchayatsthatachieveopendefecationfree(ODF)status.TheNGPispremisedonthe assumptionthatimprovingsanitationrequireschangingpeople'sbehaviourtowardstoilet usethroughlocalgovernmentinnovation,awarenesscreationandgeneratingbottomup demandforimprovedsanitation.Theprogramme,aswereportedinthisserieslastyear, hassuccessfullyacceleratedsanitationcoverageupfromlessthan20%in2000toover 69%in2011.Interestingly,manystategovernmentshaveadoptedthisapproachandhave beguntoexperimentwiththeirownawards.In2009alone,Karnataka,SikkimandHary analaunchedversionsoftheNGPawards. TheimplementationofNGPoffersmanypracticalinsightsbothonhowtoandhownot toreformpublicservicesdeliveryinIndia.First,NGPdemonstratestheeasewithwhich fiscaltransferscanbetiedtoachievingoutcomes.GiventhesuccessofNGP,thereisno reasonwhyothersocialsectorprogrammescannotinnovatewithsimilarfiscaltransfer structures.Infact,ratherthanoutcomesbudgetingtheCentre'sanswertothevexed problemofpooroutcomesthefocusoughttobeonlinkingoutlaystooutcomesatthe deliverypointthroughfiscalincentivessuchasNGP.Second,itshowcasesthecatalytic rolethat,giventherightincentives,localgovernmentscanplayinpromotingoutcomes. PanchayatshaverespondedenthusiasticallytoNGP. AccordingtoestimatesbytheWaterandSanitationProgram,by2010,approximately 55,785localgovernmentinstitutionshadappliedandsoughtverificationoftheirODF status.About22,745,or41%,ofthesehavegoneontowinawards.Butallthisrestsonan objective,rigorousevaluationsystem.ThisisthethirdkeyinsightfromNGP.WhileNGP's evaluationmethodsarefarfromperfect,inrecentyearsithastriedtointroduceinnova tionssuchaspanchayatpeerreview.Partlyasaconsequenceofimprovedevaluation,the numberofNGPawardeesactuallyfellfrom12,227in2008to4,558in200910. Forallitssuccesses,perhaps,thebiggestlessonstobelearntfromNGPcanbefoundin whatithasnotdone.Forone,ithasn'tcompletelydismantledthetoiletconstruction drive.Infact,over90%ofTSCfundstheprimaryvehiclethroughwhichNGPisimple mentedareearmarkedexclusivelytotoiletconstruction.Unsurprisingly,manystates continuetobuildtoiletsratherthanfocusingongeneratingbottomupdemand.Notonly hasthecontinuedemphasisonconstructionseverelylimitedNGP'spotentialinfact, mostofNGPawardeesatthegrampanchayatlevelcomefromthreestatesSikkim, KeralaandMaharashtrabut,crucially,ithasalsomeantthatlargesumsofmoneycon tinuetobespentonthewrongproblem.India'sexperiencewithbuildingschooltoilets illustratesthisphenomenonwell.The2010AnnualStatusofEducationReport(Aser) surveyassessedtheavailabilityandusabilityofschooltoiletstofindthatwhileabout90% ofIndia'selementaryschoolshadconstructedtoilets,abouthalfwereeitherlockedor unusable. Theprobleminthiscaseisnotinfrastructure(orlackofit),butaproblemofmaintenance andprioritization.Clearly,behaviourchangeinthiscaseismorecriticalthantoiletcon struction.Ironically,giventhestatedfocusonbehaviourchangeintheTSC,amere5%of itsannualexpenditureisearmarkedforIEC(information,educationandcommunication, schemejargonforawarenessraisingandcapacitybuilding). Second,NGPhasnotinvestedenoughinbuildingcapacityandmotivatingofficialsatthe frontlineandthishasbeenitsgreatestfailing.Whilethereisnoseriousresearch,anecdo talevidencesuggeststhatwheretheawardhasbeenprioritized,thegoalposthassimply shiftedfrombuildingtoiletstowinningawards,oftenattheexpenseofstrengthening localgovernmentsandgeneratinggenuinedemand,andanincreasingnumberofaward winningpanchayatshavefailedtomaintaintheirtotalsanitationstatus.NGPamply demonstratesthedifficultiesofimplementingabottomup,performanceorientedpro grammeinaninputfocusedbureaucraticculture.Whenfacedwiththecomplextaskof mobilizingcommunitiesandencouragingtheirparticipation,frontlineofficialsinvariably searchforwaystoreintroducethefamiliarinthisinstance,focusingontheprocedural aspectsofwinningtheawardandthevisibleinputtheawarditselfandtheroutetothe awardisinvariablybuildingtoilets.Breakingthisinputculturerequireslongterminvest mentonthefrontline,onewhichcreatesanarmyofprovidersmotivatedbythevisionof theprogrammeratherthanitstangibleoutputs.Soinsum,India'ssanitationstoryisamix ofhitsandmisses.Itssuccessliesinthefactthatithassuccessfullydevelopedaunique outcomefocusedimplementationarchitecture,whichhasresultedinsignificantimprove ments.Butitsgamechangingpotentialislimitedbyweakimplementationandmisplaced priorities. Whatweneedmostistoprioritizeoutcomes;butinputsareallweseemtoget! YaminiAiyarisaseniorresearchfellowanddirectoroftheAccountabilityInitiativeofthe CentreforPolicyResearch. (DatacollectedandanalysedbyAvaniKapurandAnirvanChowdhury)

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Anaamaadmisarkarfightsthepoor|Hindu|3February2011
It is tragic that the same government that gives huge corporate concessions and loses money in corruption is fighting over minimum wages. AsIndia'sandbysomereckoningtheworld's largestrightsbasedruralsafetynetprogramme completesfiveyears,hereisarealitycheck.The NationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme (NREGS)hasbecometheMahatmaGandhiNa tionalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeScheme (MGNREGS).Butinamonumentalaffronttothe fatherofthenation,theUPAgovernmenthas confirmedthatitwillnotbepayingminimum wagestoMGNREGSworkers. OnJanuary1,2009,thegovernmentfrozethe (then)NREGSdailywagesatRs.100anddelinkedit fromthesacrosanctMinimumWagesAct,1948. ThepoorhadalwaysbeenunderpaidintheIndian labourmarket.Butnow,byasinglediktat,they wereofficiallycondemnedtosubhumanstatus,fit noteventoearnsubsistencelevelwages. HadtheMahatmabeenlivingtoday,hewould havebeeninfinitelysaddenedbytheuseofhis nametosanctifythisblatantillegality.Intheevent, thegreatesteverchampionofjusticeforthepoor isnowthebrandnameforaprogrammethat deniesthelowestlegallypermissiblewagestothis section.Butsuchislifeandsucharegovernments in2003,thankstoapredecessorregime,the Mahatmafacedtheignominyofsharingspacein Parliament'sCentralHallwithVinayakDamodar Savarkar,onceaccusedinhisassassination. Inthecurrentcase,thehypocrisyiscompounded bythepaeanssungtotheruralwageprogramme bytheCongressandtheUPAgovernmentinthe sunshineaftermathoftheirMay2009reelection. Thevictorywasphenomenalbyeveryyardstick. TheManmohanSinghgovernmentwasthefirst since1984tohavereturnedtoofficeafterafull firstterm.Moreamazingly,ithadhitthebull'seye beatingtheoddsbroughtaboutbycripplingworld widerecessionandspirallingprices.Theonly explanationthatsuggesteditselfwasthatthe votingclasses,madeupoverwhelminglyofthe poorersections,hadderivedatleastmarginal benefitsfromthegovernment'swelfaremeasures, patchyandhalfheartedasthelatterwere.For politicians,thesituationofferedsomethingto chewon:Ifhalfmeasurescouldachievethis,what wouldbethepoliticaldividendfromamorefocus sedandbetterimplementedsocialsectoragenda? Indeed,theMahatmaGandhiprefixtotheNREGS waswidelyreadasathanksgivingtotheaam aadmifromagratefulpartyandgovernment. Thesurestwayofrewardingtheaamaadmiand respectingtheMahatma'sidealsinletterandspirit wouldhavebeenforthegovernmenttowithdraw theJanuary1,2009orderandrealignthe MGNREGStotheMinimumWagesAct.Instead,in the20monthssinceitsvictory,thegovernment hasdoneallitcouldtoderailtheprogramme. Perhapsthebiggerdishonestyistheoutward impressionithasgivenofmakingasuperhuman efforttosustaintheprogrammeagainstmount ingfiscalpressuresandcriticismthatthe MGNREGShadbecomeawastefulbehemoth. OnDecember31,2010,PrimeMinisterManmohanSingh wrotetoNationalAdvisoryCouncilchairpersonSoniaGandhi, rejectingtheNAC'spleaforpaymentofstatutoryminimum wagestoMGNREGSworkers.However,heproposedacom promise:ToprotectMGNREGSworkersfrominflation,the governmentwouldindexthewagestotheConsumerPrice Indexforagriculturallabour.Thiscleversleightofhandwas intendedtoservetwopurposespushtheNACanditssup porterstothebackfootanddivertattentionfromthecore issueofminimumwages.Overnight,thedemandforminimum wagesstartedtolookridiculousandoverstated.Thedebate waspitchedintermsofreasonablegovernanceversusfunda mentalistsocialactivism.Herewasagovernmentexertingits utmostforthepoor,goingoutonalimbtobeartheextra burdenofindexingwagestoinflation.YettheNACandits cohortswereinsistingonamaximalistpositiononminimum wages.Maximalistpositiononminimumwages?Theirony didn'tstrikethosehyperventilatingagainstthewagepro gramme. Thequestionbeforethegovernmentwasofconstitutional propriety:canadulyelectedgovernmentrefusetoimplement itsownlaw,moresoagovernmentthatsworebytheaam aadmiforwhomthe1948lawwasdesignedinthefirstplace? Butratherthanaccepttheobviousanswer,thegovernment cosmeticallytinkeredwiththewageprogramme,passingitoff aslargessetoMGNREGSworkers. Buttheillegalitydoesnotendhere.TheUPAgovernmentis currentlyincontemptoftheAndhraPradeshHighCourt which,inJuly2009,suspendedtheRs.100wagefreezeor deredonJanuary1,2009bytheUnionRuralDevelopment Ministry.ButtheCentralgovernmenttooknonoteofthe order,resultinginlabourgroupswhichhadfirstmovedthe courtfilingcontemptpetitionsagainstit. AtarecentseminaronMGNREGSwages,PlanningCommis sionVicechairpersonMontekSinghAhluwaliadismissedthe issuewiththeoffhandremarkthattheCentrewouldenforce minimumwagesforMGNREGSworkersifthecourtssode creed.HewasunawarethattheCentrewasalreadyincon temptonthisissue!WhenthiswaspointedouttoMr.Ahlu walia,heamendedhisposition:Iftheminimumwageina StatewasinexcessofRs.100,theStategovernmentwould paythebalance.However,forthistohappen,theMahatma GandhiNationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeActwouldhave tobefirstamended,ofwhichthereisfarfrombeinganysign. Inreality,theAndhraPradeshHighCourtwasonlytaking forwardapositionmadeoverandoverbytheSupremeCourt. AsformerChiefJusticeoftheDelhiHighCourtA.P.Shah pointedoutatthewagesseminar,theSupremeCourt,through aseriesofjudgments,hadelevatedtherighttominimum wagesfromastatutorytoConstitutionalstatus.TheSu premeCourtruledthatanyremunerationwhichwaslessthan theminimumwagewasforcedlabourorwhatiscommonly understoodasbondedlabour.Thecourtexplainedwhy: thefirstprincipleisthatthereisaminimumwagewhich,in anyeventmustbepaid,irrespectiveoftheextentofprofits, thefinancialconditionoftheestablishmentortheavailability ofworkmeninlowerwages.Theminimumwageisindepend entofthekindofindustryandappliestoallalike,bigorsmall. Itsetsthelowestlimitbelowwhichwagescannotbeallowed tosinkinallhumanity... Clearly,itisinhumananddegradingeventoargueagainst minimumwagesdoublysoinacountrywhere92percent oftheworkingpopulationisintheunorganisedsector,where exploitationoflabourandpoorenforcementoflawsarea given.AccordingtoareportoftheNationalCommissionfor EnterprisesintheUnorganisedSector(NCEUS), in200405,90.7percentofagriculturallabour ers,64.5percentofruralworkersand52.3per centofcasualnonagriculturalworkersreceived wagesbelowthedailynationalminimumwage ofRs.66designatedbytheCentralgovernment. ItistorectifythisdismalsituationthatParlia ment,in2008,passedTheUnorganisedSector WorkersSocialSecurityBill.Thelawsetmini mumconditionsofwork,includinganeighthour workdayandpaymentofstatutoryminimum wages.Butwhatuseisanylawifthegovern mentwilfullyfloutsit?Inarecentpaper,Jayati GhoshandC.P.Chandrashekharhaveshown thatevenwithpatchyimplementation,the MGNREGShadpushedupwages,especiallyfor women,whoformoverhalfoftheMGNREGS workforce.Onehasonlytolookatthetransfor mativesocialimpactofthemiddaymeal schemeinTamilNadutoappreciatethelong termeffectofthiskindoffemaleempowerment onruralfamilies. Talkingtojournalistsaheadofthe2009general election,RahulGandhihadproudlynotedthe effectoftheruralwageschemeinelevating wagelevelsacrossthecountry.Mr.Gandhiis notasocialactivist;ifanythinghehasamarket vision.Sohetypicallyunderstoodthewage schemefromamarketperspective:Increased ruralspendinghadtobegoodforgrowth. Tragically,thisveryfactorhastodaybecomea reasontofighttheprogramme.Thenewest argumentagainsttheMGNREGSisthatrising ruralwagesiscausinginflationandraisingthe costsofcultivation,renderingtheeconomy uncompetitive.MsGhoshandMr.Chandrashek harhavestronglydisputedthisargumentintheir paper.Inanycase,thisisaviciouslycircular argumentcomingfromagrowthobsessed government.Economicgrowthisnecessaryto upliftthepoor.Butwhenthepoorgetjusta littlemoneytospend,theeconomystartshurt ing. Insuccessivebudgets,thisgovernmenthas handedhugeconcessionstocorporates.Be tween2007and2009,taxrevenueforegoneon accountofexemptionsundercorporateincome taxamountedtooverRs.1,31,000crore (VenkateshAthreya,Frontline).Expertshave placedthesizeoftheBlackMoneyEconomyat anythingbetween40percentand50percentof theGDP.The2Gscamalonehasveryconserva tivelycosttheexchequerRs.50,000crore.By contrastthe20092010budgetallocatedRs. 39,000croreorabout0.66percentoftheGDP toMGNREGS.Thatthegovernmentisquibbling overthepaymentofminimumwagestothe poorestofthepoorisashame. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/ article1150299.ece

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HRDgearsupforteachertrainingforqualityeducation|TimesofIndia|6February2011
RANCHI:Thehumanresourcedevelopment departmentisgearingupforateachers'train ingprogrammeinabigwaytoensurequality educationinthestate.Takinglessonsfrom surveysconductedbydifferentindependent agenciesonqualityofeducationinthestate, thedepartmenthasplannedtoimprovethe qualityofteachersintheacademicyear2011 12. DirectorprimaryeducationDKSaxenasaid unlessteachersweretrainedproperly,one couldnotexpectthemtodeliverqualityeduca tiontothechildren."Fromvariousindependent studieswehavecometoknowthatdespite increaseinenrollmenttherehasbeennotable deteriorationinlearningskillsofthestudents alloverthecountryincludingJharkhandover thepastfewyears,"hesaid. SurveyofAnnualStatusofEducationReport (ASER)for2010releasedrecentlyrevealsthatthepercent ageofoutofschoolchildrenhasdecreasedconsiderably. WithsuccessoftheSarvaSikshaAbhiyanandSchoolChale campaigns,thepercentageofoutofschoolgirlsintheage group1114yearsdecreasedfrom13percentin2006to 4.9percentin2010.Similarlythispercentageamongthe boyscamedownfrom11to5percentinthesameperiod. Anothertablebasedonthesurveyin22districtsofJhark handrevealsthatintheprimarysection,85.4%childrenin theagegroupofsixto14yearswereenrolledingovern mentschools,8.8percentinprivateschoolsand2.1in othercategorieslikemadarsaorcentresoperatedinedu cationguaranteescheme(EGS),leaving3.8percentinthe categoryofeitherdropoutorneverenrolled.Thefigures ofchildrenwhohaveneverbeentoschoolsincreasedwith increasingageanditwasputatthehighest16.5percent fortheboysintheagegroup1516years. SaxenasaidthefigureswereencouragingasJharkhand registeredgrowthinenrollmentfiguresbutasfarasbasic abilitytoreadtextandcarryoutdaytoday mathematicalcalculationswereconcerned, thereportpaintedadismalpicture."Dueto increasednumberofchildreninschools alreadysufferingwithinfrastructurebottle necks,qualityofeducationhasdeteriorated andanurgentneedtotraintheteacherswas felt,"hesaid. TheASERreportindicatesthatthereare2.2 percentchildreninClassVIIIwhocanjust identifyalphabetsbutcannotevenreadtext giventoastudentofstandardI.Thepercent ageofstudentsinclassVIIIwhocanreadtext forClassIbutcannotreadtextforstudents ofClassIIwas8.4indicatingthelowstandard ofeducation. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ ranchi/HRDgearsupforteachertrainingfor qualityeducation/articleshow/7433859.cms

MadhyaPradesh'sRs.9croreNREGAscam|NDTV|26January2011
Bhopal:NREGAhasalwaysbeentoutedasthe UPAsflagshipschemebuttherehavebeena numberofinstanceswhentheschemehas beenmisusedbythosewhoaredispensing funds. IASofficersSukhveerSinghandChandrashekar BorkarbothpostedinSeedhidistrictinMadhya Pradesh,between2006and2007,were chargedwithmisappropriatingninecroreru peesduringthistenure. FundsmeantforNREGA,aschemethatensures hundreddaysofworktotheruralpoor. Aninquiryrevealedthatunderthemfinances wereapprovedforprojectsthatexistedonlyon paperandbulkpaymentsweremadetowork ersondates,likeJune31,thatdon'texist. Theinquirywasconductednearlythreeyears agostilltheyenjoyedplumpostswithoutfacing anyaction. CollectorsKPRahiandSSAlialsosubjectedtoa departmentalinquiryin2008fordiverting threecroresofNREGAfundsostensiblytobuy photocopiersandmatsforthepanchayats. Again,therewasnoaction. Thisinastatewhereasmanyas33bureaucrats arebeinginvestigated,includingsuspendedIAS coupleArvindJoshiandTinnuJoshi:Araidin theirhouselastyearthrewupcashandproper tiesworthastupendousRs.360crore. ''Nowthatyouhavetoldme,Iwilllookintothe matter,"saidNarottamMishra,Spokesperson, MadhyaPradeshGovernment. ''TheGovernmentofIndiahaswrittenseveral timestothestategovernmenttotakeaction againstthem,tofileanFIRagainstthosewho havesiphonedoffmoney.Butsofarnothing hasbeendone,"saidAjayDubey,RTIActivist. MadhyaPradeshhasoneoftheworstdevelop mentindicatorsinthecountry.Inastatewherethepoor canbarelymakeendsmeet,schemesmeantforthem hardlymakeadifferencetotheirlives.Butitseemsthe schemesdefinitelyhelpmanyofficersgetricher. Recently,theMPgovernmenthasdraftedatoughanti corruptionbill. Onceitbecomeslawanyaccusedpublicservant,servingor retired,willbetriedbythefasttrackcourtwithinayear. Butgivensomuchevidenceofinactionhowwillthislawrise abovemeretokenism? http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/madhyapradeshsrs9 crorenregascam81670?pfrom=homeIndia Thereisashortageof25millionhousing unitsinthecountryandthegovernment intendstoconstructabout10millionhouses undertheRAY.GISmappinghasbeendone toidentifyslumsincities."ThesanctionofRs 6,000croreforRAYisbeingannouncedin thelastyearof11thFiveYearPlan.More wouldfollowinthe12thPlan,"theHUPA officialsaid. Asperthescheme,50percentofthecostof constructionwouldbebornebytheCentre andrestwouldbebornebythestategovern ment,urbanlocalbodyandthebeneficiary. Inordertoavailthecentralgrant,thestate governmenthastopasstheProperties RightsActortoundertakethecommitment tolegislatetheActwithinayear. "WehavepreparedamodelProperties RightsActanditwouldbegiventoallstates toadoptit.ThelegislationoftheActwill facilitatetheslumdwellerstoavailloans fromthebank,"hesaid. ThegrantunderRAYwillbegiveninfour instalmentsafterreceivingthedetailed projectreportsfromthestategovernments. Besidesthestategovernment,urbanlocal bodiesandNGOswillbeinvolvedinimple mentationsofthescheme."Therewillalso becommunityparticipationinthescheme," theofficialsaid. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ articleshow/7389147.cms?frm=mailtofriend

Rs6,000crpackageforslumfreecityproject| EconomicTimes|30January2011
NEWDELHI:Inasignificantmovetowardsaslumfreecity plan,theCentrewillsoonannounceRs6,000croregrant forconstructionofhousesundertheRajivAwasYojnaasa pilotproject. Thepilotprojectenvisagesconstructionofovertwolakh housingunits,withallbasicinfrastructuresacrossthecoun try.Eachunit,estimatedtocostaboutRs3lakh,willconsist oftworooms,kitchen,bathroomandalavatory,alongwith electricityandwaterfacilities. "Rs6,000criergrantwouldbeannouncedforconstruction ofhouseswithallbasicamenitiesundertheRajivAwas Yojna(RAY)asapilotproject,"aseniorHousingandUrban PovertyAlleviation(HUPA)Ministryofficialsaid.Launched inJune2009,theRAY,aflagshipprogrammeoftheUPAII, ismeanttomakeIndiaslumfree. "Ittookalmosttwoyearstopreparetheschemeafterthe announcementoftheRAY.Nowtheimplementationstage hascome,"theofficialsaid,adding,"TheRs6,000crore grantwouldbeannouncedafterthecabinetapprovalin February."

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Ruraljobsschemeaunifyingfactortoo|Hindu|4February2011
It has served as a tool to ease tension in Kandhamal and ethnic conflict among Manipur's tribal groups Peppinguptheruraleconomy,theMahatma GandhiNationalRuralEmploymentGuarantee Scheme(MGNREGS)isalsoamagicwandfor reducingtensionsandforgingsocialunityand bondingfamilystructures. Thisishowofficialshaveevolvedthescopeof theAct,andthecountryrewardedtheiringenu ityatafunctionherecelebratingthecomple tionoffiveyearsofthisjobguaranteescheme. BothPrimeMinisterManmohanSinghand UnitedProgressiveAlliancechairpersonSonia Gandhigracedtheoccasion.Standingoutamid thecelebrationsaresomeremarkablesuccess storieswheretheMGNREGSservedasatoolto easesocialtensionasinOrissa'sKandhamalor resolvingethnicconflictamongthetribal groupsinManipurandrestorationofharmony, whichinturnresultedinsuccessfulimplemen tationoftheschemeintheseregions. Besidestheseofficials,eightDistrictMagis tratesfromacrossthecountrywererewarded fortheireffortsintheirrespectivedistricts. Christmaspassedpeacefullyinthetribal dominatedKandhamaldistrictin2009and 2010,incontrasttotheviolencewitnessedin earlierpartsofthedecadefollowingthemur derofAustralianmissionaryGrahamSteins, pointedoutDistrictMagistrateKrishnaKumar. Theconflictintheregionstemmedimplemen tationoftheAct,andaturnaroundwasbrought about,again,byusingthisschemetomobilise people.Youthfromthetwowarringgroupsthat hadledtoincidentsofwomenbeingsetablazeandpeople murderedwerebroughttogetherattheworksiteand madetoworktogether.Theissuesoftribalswerealso addressedtocountertheimpactofLeftwingextremism. ConvergenceofotherCentralschemes,includingforest rightsoftribals,ledtocreationofassetsattheindividual level,raisingtheirannualincomebyatleast65percent. ThesocialoutcomewasthepeacefulChristmascelebra tionsthistime. AsimilarstrategywasadoptedinManipur'sChurachand purdistrict,thatsharesalongborderwithBurma,and suffersaseethingproblemofinsurgencyandethnic clashes.Thetribesdon'tseeeyetoeyewitheachother, thereisconstantmigrationofthepopulationandwith over13undergroundoutfitsthrivinginthedistrict,some 50villageshavebeenrazedtotheground. DistrictMagistrateJacinthaLazarusmaintainedthat MGNREGSprovedtobeaboonandthechiefsof64vil lages,whoworkedatcrosspurpose,werebroughttothe tableandmadetoworktogether.Theresultwastheissu ingof12,000jobcardsandplantingofabouttwolakh saplingsinjustoveramonthandahalf.TheManipur Governmenthasdecidedtoadoptthesamemodelinthe othereightdistricts. Itismakinganimpact.I'mnotsayingthatpeoplehave totallymovedawayfrommilitancy.Theyarenowworking, unlikeinthepast,buryingtheircompartmenttighttribe identity,shesaid. InWestBengal'sJalpaiguriarea,MNREGSwasusednot onlytorevivetheclosedTeaGardensbutalsotosavethe tribalfamilystructure.ThecreditheregoestoDistrict MagistrateVandanaYadav. TheAdministrationagreedtomeetonethirdofthewage bill,whichensuredthereopeningof10ofthe12teagar dens,lyingclosedforwelloveradecade,butalsosaved theintegratedtribalfamilyfabricof81,000 tribals,besidespullingthemoutofdestitu tion.Moreover,theynowhaveincreased wages. Thetribalswereagainstretrenchment,asit wouldhavedividedthefamily.Thefactories aredoingwellandthetribalshavebeen ensuredoflifelongsecurity. Anotherexampleofsuccessfulimplementa tionoftheActinanindustrialregionhas beenscriptedinUttarPradesh'sSantRavidas NagarinBhadohidistrict,renownedforits carpets.DistrictMagistrateSurendraSingh saidweaverswereencouragedtotakeup MGNREGSjobs,amovediscouragedbylocal panchayatleadersforobviousreasons. TheweaverswerepaidaboutRs.40to80per day,butoncetheytooktoMGNREGS,their wagesreceivedaboostandthatputanend tomigrationoflabour.Withthathavecome downincidentsofwivescommittingsuicide duetothetortureoflocalgoonswiththeir husbandsnotaroundtosupportthem,and themigrantmaleenteringintosecondmar riageattheplaceofhiswork. DistrictMagistratesofNorthSikkimP.N. Bhutia,Karnataka'sDharwarddistrictC. Sikha,Gujarat'sRajkotJayPrakashShivahare, Rajasthan'sBarmerdistrictGauravGoyal, MadhyaPradesh'sAnupurdistrictKavindra KiyawatandTamilNadu'sTiruvannamalai districtM.Rajendrantoowouldbehonoured fortheirwork.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ article1154931.ece

5croreequipmentgathersdustinFbd|TimesofIndia|9February2011
Faridabad/NewDelhi:Thisisoneinstancethat showshowgovernmentagencieswastethe fundstheygetfromtheCentreforrenewalof urbaninfrastructure. Alargenumberofsewerlinejettingmachines, animalcatchervans,mobilebinsandJCBsthat wereprocuredforFaridabadMunicipalCorpo ration(MCF)forRs5crorein2008aregather ingdust.Theitemswereboughtforsolidwaste managementschemeundertheJawaharlal NehruNationalUrbanRenewalMission (JNNURM)scheme. MCFhaddisclosedthelistofitemsinanRTI replytoKishanLalGera,aformeradvisortothe municipalbody.Alltheseitemswerebought tobeusedinthecity.Butthesehavebeenlying idleforyears.Themunicipalbodygotthe equipmentonlytoexhaustthegrantitgotfrom theCentreandstategovernments,alleged Gera. AccordingtotheRTIreply,theitemsweresup pliedbyNationalBuildingsConstructionCom pany(NBCC).Thelistofitemsincludesthree 3,000ltsewerlinejettingmachines,60metalcontainers,20 mobilebinsof1,100ltcapacityeach,20chassiswithcaband nineJCBs.TheRTIreplymentionedthat50%ofthefundfor thispurchasecamefromCentreunderJNNURMwhile20% wasgivenbythestategovernmentandtherest30%came fromurbanlocalboard.Theseitemsweredeliveredtothe municipalbodybetweenAugustandOctoberin2008. Gerasaidhehadlodgedacomplaintwiththeformermu nicipalcommissioners,butnevergotareplyonwhythose itemswerelyingunused.IhadfinallywrittentothePrime MinisterinNovemberhighlightinghowthishasmeantaloss tothepublicexchequer,Gerasaid. Therearefrequentinstancesofsewage waterspillingovertothemainroadsin GandhiColony,IndiraColony,Sanjay ColonyandSector21A&B.Littleattention isgiventoimprovecivicinfrastructure, saidSureshMondal,aresidentofSector 21B. MSShehrawat,whowastransferredfrom thepostofmunicipalcommissionerlate onMondaynight,didnotrespondtocalls sayinghewasbusyinmeetings.However, aseniorHaryanacadreofficerwhoworked inFaridabadwhenthecityreceivedCentral assistancesaidthatonlyNBCCcouldre spondtowhytheseitemswerenotused. FaridabadistheonlycityinHaryanawhich hasbeencoveredundertheJNNURM scheme.With46%ofitspopulationlivingin slumareas,Faridabadisonlysecondto Mumbaiwhichhas54%peopleresidingin slums.

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Middaymealshedsstillnotready|TimesofIndia|20January2011
CHANDIGARH:Forthelastthree years,constructionofkitchenshedsatgovern mentschoolsforprovidingmiddaymealto studentshasbeendelayedduetoleniencyof UT'sengineeringwing. AdministrationwouldspendoverRs2croreon theshedssupposedtobebuiltat10govern mentschoolsforwhich,aproposalwasmadein 2007andtheconstructionshouldhavecom pletedin2008. Sourcessaidthatkitchenshedsarealreadyin placeatgovernmentmodelseniorsecondary schoolsinsectors10,44,26,47,15andgovern mentmodelhighschoolsatsectors38and42andthe remainingatgovernmentmodelseniorsecondaryschools insectors23and40andgovernmentmodelhighschool, Sector29willtakesomemoretime. Thisinitiativewouldhaveensuredfreshfoodforstudents andtheshedsweretobesetupneartheschoolssothat thepupilscouldhaveaquickaccess. Earlier,sevenshedswereplannedbutthreemorewere added.Asperthedecision,theseshedsweretobehanded overtotheeducationdepartment.Theapproximatecost ofeachshedwasRs21.50lakhandmealsweretobepre paredbyNGOs,undertheparents'supervision. Numberofstudentsforthemiddaymealhasincreased manifoldasapartfromthegovernment schools,studentsofAlternativeInnovative Education(AIE)centrewerealsoincludedin thescheme. UTsengineeringwinghasfailedtoensurea timelycompletionoftheprojectandthose constructed,arenotinuse. UTchiefengineerSKJaitelysaidthatprob lemsinsiteallocationhasdelayedthepro ject."Iwillchecktherecordsandfindarea sonforthehangup,"headded. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ chandigarh/Middaymealshedsstillnot ready/articleshow/7322890.cms

Elementaryeducation:Notjustenrolment,improvelearning|EconomicTimes|20January2011
Thereportcardonelementaryeducationfor theUniongovernmentandvariousstategov ernmentsforthefiveyearperiodof200510is clear.ItisbasedonthesixthAnnualStatusof EducationReport(ASER)releasedrecently. Thereismuchimprovementinenrolmentof childreninschools,butnoimprovementin learning.Shouldthissurpriseus? TheentireSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(SSA),and nowtheRighttoEducation(RTE)Act,revolves aroundsupplyandinputswithnofocuson learningimprovement.Atameetinginoneof thestates,whenmanylowerofficerscom plainedthattheydidnotquiteunderstand whattheRTEActwas,theleadingofficer calmedthemdownwithasimpleexplanation. Allyoureallyhavetodoistogetallchildrenin school,makesuretheyarenotbeatenup,and promoteeveryonetothenextstandardtillthey completeeightyearsofschooling,hesaid.This way,youwillhavedeliveredRTE. ThosewhotoiledovertheRTEActwillsquirm atthisanecdoteandprotest,butultimately, somethingverycomplexdoesboildowntoa simplerepresentationfarawayfromitsorigin. Inmarketingterms,itisamplyclearthattheproductisthe schoolwithclassroomsandteachers,priceiszero,promo tionisuniforms,books,middaymealsandguaranteedpro motion,andplaceiswithin1kmofeachhabitation.The productwasneverpromisedtobelearningachievement. Smallsurprisethenthatitwasnotdelivered. Thetruthisthattheeducationestablishmentdoesnothave astrategicplantoimproveeducationoutcomesinatime boundmanner,allthetalkofoutcomesoveroutlaysnot withstanding. Whatisworseisthatthoseresponsibleforeducationpoli ciesdonotevenacknowledgethatthegovernmentmust havegoalswithmeasurableoutcomes.Itisnosecretthat resultsareattainedwhengoalsaresetandeffortsarefo cusedonachievementofthesegoals.Overthelastthree years,threestateswithcompletelydifferentbackground havesetdifferentgoalsandachievedcorrespondingre sults. Acommonfeatureonallthreeprogrammesisthatthe officersinchargehadfullbackingofthehigherupsand werenotmovedaround.Theywerefullyempoweredto makeadifference.Ofcourse,merecontinuityofofficers doesnotguaranteeimpactunlessthegoalstobeachieved aredecidedandthereisaclearstrategicplan. TheBihargovernmentfocusedonimprovingenrolmentin schools.Theydideverythingfrommobilis ingvolunteerstogivingbicyclesinaddition toconstructingschoolsandappointingpara orregularteachers. Theendresultisthatthestatethathadthe highestproportionofoutofschoolchildren fiveyearsagohaslesserpercentageofout ofschoolgirlsnowthanthenationalaver age.Theproblemisthatthesamefocuswas theenemyofimprovementoflearning levelsthatcouldhaveeasilyhappened simultaneouslygiventhelargenumberof teachersandacademicsupportstaffthat existedinthestate. TheTamilNadugovernmenttooktostate widescaleaprojectbrandedActivityBased Learning.Althoughthiswassupposedto improvelearningattainment,thereisno evidencethatlearninglevelshaveimproved inTamilNaduoverthreeyears. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ policy/elementaryeducationnotjust enrolmentimprovelearning/ articleshow/7323145.cms

NitishpilotschangeinNREGAfundplan|HindustanTimes|7February2011
BiharchiefministerNitishKumarhasdone whathiscounterpartsinotherstatesfailedto do.HeconvincedtheCentrethatitspolicyon disbursementoffundsforimplementingthe MahatmaGandhiNationalRuralEmployment GuaranteeScheme(MNREGS)wasflawedand neededcorrection.AtameetingwithPlan PaneldeputychairmanMontekSinghAhlu walia,Kumarpointedouttheanomaly,which thegovernmentacknowledgedandwasquick toreact. Thisresultedinhigherfundallocation,notonly forBihar,but,forentirecountrytoimplement theworld'slargestemploymentprogramme. RuraldevelopmentsecretaryBKSinhaon Thursdayissuedanorderdirectinghisministrytorelease moneytothestatesforimplementingtheschemeasper demandprojectedinthelabourbudget.Labourbudgetis themonthwisedemandforworkprojectedbythestatesto theministry. Theruraldevelopmentministryusedtoreleasefundstothe statesonthebasisofexpenditureinpreviousmonthsand notasperprojectionsinthelabourbudget.Itmeantthat forhighworkdemandmonths,suchasJanuaryandFebru ary,themoneyreleasedwasasperexpenditureinlow demandmonthofDecember. Thisresultedinthestatesfeelingfinancialcrunchtoprovide worktoall."Thisanomalyhasbeencorrected,"saidaPlan panelfunctionary. KumarhadtoldAhluwaliaonWednesdaythestatewasnot abletoprovideworkasperdemandbe causenotenoughmoneywasbeingre leased. Thepanelapprisedruraldevelopmentmin isterVilasraoDeshmukhaboutit,whothen directedthesecretarytoact."Releasesfor theremainingmonthsofthecurrentfinan cialyearwillbemadeonthebasisofde mandprojectedinthelabourbudget," Sinhasaid. Also,therewouldbenootherformalityin fundreleasingexceptseekingutilisation certificateinthepreviousmonths. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Nitish pilotschangeinNREGAfundplan/Article1

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Elementaryeducation:Notjustenrolment,improvelearning|EconomicTimes|20January2011
Thereportcardonelementaryeducationfor theUniongovernmentandvariousstate governmentsforthefiveyearperiodof2005 10isclear.ItisbasedonthesixthAnnual StatusofEducationReport(ASER)released recently.Thereismuchimprovementin enrolmentofchildreninschools,butno improvementinlearning.Shouldthissur priseus? TheentireSarvaShikshaAbhiyan(SSA),and nowtheRighttoEducation(RTE)Act,re volvesaroundsupplyandinputswithno focusonlearningimprovement.Atameet inginoneofthestates,whenmanylower officerscomplainedthattheydidnotquite understandwhattheRTEActwas,thelead ingofficercalmedthemdownwithasimple explanation. Allyoureallyhavetodoistogetallchildren inschool,makesuretheyarenotbeatenup, andpromoteeveryonetothenextstandard tilltheycompleteeightyearsofschooling, hesaid.Thisway,youwillhavedelivered RTE. ThosewhotoiledovertheRTEActwill squirmatthisanecdoteandprotest,but ultimately,somethingverycomplexdoesboildownto asimplerepresentationfarawayfromitsorigin.In marketingterms,itisamplyclearthattheproductis theschoolwithclassroomsandteachers,priceiszero, promotionisuniforms,books,middaymealsandguar anteedpromotion,andplaceiswithin1kmofeach habitation.Theproductwasneverpromisedtobe learningachievement.Smallsurprisethenthatitwas notdelivered. Thetruthisthattheeducationestablishmentdoesnot haveastrategicplantoimproveeducationoutcomesin atimeboundmanner,allthetalkofoutcomesover outlaysnotwithstanding. Whatisworseisthatthoseresponsibleforeducation policiesdonotevenacknowledgethatthegovernment musthavegoalswithmeasurableoutcomes.Itisno secretthatresultsareattainedwhengoalsaresetand effortsarefocusedonachievementofthesegoals. Overthelastthreeyears,threestateswithcompletely differentbackgroundhavesetdifferentgoalsand achievedcorrespondingresults. Acommonfeatureonallthreeprogrammesisthatthe officersinchargehadfullbackingofthehigherupsand werenotmovedaround.Theywerefullyempowered tomakeadifference.Ofcourse,merecontinuityof officersdoesnotguaranteeimpactunlessthegoalsto beachievedaredecidedandthereisa clearstrategicplan. TheBihargovernmentfocusedonimprov ingenrolmentinschools.Theydidevery thingfrommobilisingvolunteerstogiving bicyclesinadditiontoconstructingschools andappointingparaorregularteachers. Theendresultisthatthestatethathad thehighestproportionofoutofschool childrenfiveyearsagohaslesserpercent ageofoutofschoolgirlsnowthanthe nationalaverage.Theproblemisthatthe samefocuswastheenemyofimprove mentoflearninglevelsthatcouldhave easilyhappenedsimultaneouslygiventhe largenumberofteachersandacademic supportstaffthatexistedinthestate. TheTamilNadugovernmenttooktostate widescaleaprojectbrandedActivity BasedLearning.Althoughthiswassup posedtoimprovelearningattainment, thereisnoevidencethatlearninglevels haveimprovedinTamilNaduoverthree years.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/policy/ elementaryeducationnotjustenrolmentimprove learning/articleshow/7323145.cms

Biometricskeepsmiddaymealschemeontrack|DeccanChronicle|18February2011
Asimpleuseoftechnologyhashelped streamlinegrossmisuseoffundsingovern mentsmiddaymealprogrammeingovern mentprimaryschools.Notjustthemeals; theinexpensivebiometricdeviceusinggen eralpacketradioservice(GPRS)technology developedbyaBengalurubasedtechiehas alsocomeinhandytocheckteachersatten danceintheseschoolsandmoreimpor tantly,thedropoutrateofstudents,which isrampantandoftenignoredbyschoolau thoritiesforvariousreasons. ApilotprojecttakenupbyBengalurubased softwareentrepreneurMallikarjunPatilin avillageschoolGovernmentComposite HighSchoolinNagenahalli,Mysoretaluk hasdonewondersincontrollingpilferageof foodgrainsmeantformiddaymealsand savedgovernmentlakhsofrupees.MsG. Satyavathi,chiefexecutiveofficer,Zilla Panchayat,Mysoretalukhadsanctioned permissionfortheuniqueproject. Ihadheardabouttherampantmisuseof governmentfundsinthemiddaymealpro gramme.Iwonderedhowtechnologycould beusedtohelpreducethepilferageand improveschooladministrationingeneral.I devisedabatteryoperatedbiometricgadget usingGPRStechnologybutIneededtocon ductafieldtesttocheckitsfunctioning. Ifoundthisvillageschool,whichis10kmfromMysore andIapproachedMsSatyavathi,chiefexecutiveofficer, ZillaPanchayat,Mysoretalukforpermission.Thepilot waslaunchedinNovemberlastyearwithhersupport, saidMrPatil.Thebiometricdevicehasbeentailormade forremotevillages,wherepowersupplyandnetwork connectivityarepoor. TheGPRStechnologycomesinhandytopushthedata fromremotelocationstotheserverinBengaluru.We havealsocreatedvariouswebreports,whichhave broughtingreatertransparencyandhascutdownon thepaperwork,saidMr.Patil.Headdedthathardware issuppliedbyEsslahardwarefirminBengaluru. DeccanChroniclevisitedtheGovernmentSchoolinNa genhallitoseehowthedeviceworks. Theportablebiometricdevicehasastoreddataoffinger printsofallthestudentsfromprimarysectiontothe highschoolandwhentheycometoschoolataround9 amtheyhavetopunchthemachinetorecordatten dance.Eventheteachersincludingtheheadsofthe institutionhavetorecordtheirattendance. By10amMrPatilgetstheinformationonhowmany childrenhaveturnedupforthedayandhethensends anSMStotheheadcookoftheschoolontheamountof rice,lentilsandvegetablessheshouldusefortheday. Thenamesofregularabsenteesaresenttothehead masterRajendracharyaandheadmistressH.Hemak shasothattheycanvisitthechildshomeanddrawher/ himbacktoschool. TheDeputyDirectorofPrimaryEduca tionanddepartmentheadsarekeptin theloopontheteachersattendance. Thewebbasedsystemalsoallowsgov ernmenttoanalysethedatabaseonboy girlratio;casteandannualincomeof parentswiththeuseofgraphsandbar charts,saidMr.Patil. TheRevenueSecretary,RajivChawla, impressedwiththeprojectsaidthatitsa foolproofmethodtocheckpilferageof foodgrains;studentsandteachersatten dance.Itsasimple,inexpensivemulti purposedevice,whichhascontrolled manyirregularitiesingovernmentrun primaryschools;fromthemiddaymeal programmetocheckingteacherabsen teeismanddropoutrateofchildren, saidMr.Chawla. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/ bengaluru/biometricskeepsmidday mealschemetrack448

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Internal Control, Transparency and Vigilance Mechanism

Plugtheholeinthebucket|TimesofIndia|24February2011
enceresearchandaprogrammeevaluation thatismeaningfultopolicymakersorpro grammeimplementers. Stategovernmentsdon'tparticularlyseemto beinterestedinevaluatingtheirownpro grammeefficiency,andhavenotbuiltupany capacityinthefieldofmonitoringorevalua tion.Sowehaveasituationwhereaculture ofacceptanceofpoorlydesignedorindiffer entlyimplementedprogrammeshasthrived acultureinwhichleakagesofprogramme fundsarealsoacceptedasagiven. Itisinthiscontextthatthecentralgovern mentannouncedthecreationofaninde pendentevaluationofficeinthepresident's speechtoParliament.Thecabinethasjust approveditscreation.Ithasitstaskcutout.It willfirsthavetoensurethatmonitoring systemsarebuiltupineverycentralgovern mentlineministry,andtheninstategovern mentdepartments.Itwillthenhavetoen surethatdatacollectedthroughsuchmoni toringsystemsareauthenticatedandvali datedsothattheyarereliabletoolsforman agementandmoreeffectiveimplementation ofprogrammeobjectives.Itwillthenhaveto developtrainingtobuildcapacitytoconduct evaluationsgenerally,andimpactevaluations inparticularsincethereisverylimitedca pacitytoconductrigorousevaluationsinthe country. Finally,andmostimportantly,itmusttake theleadinconductingevaluationsitself,and encourageotherstoundertakesuchevalua tions,especiallyoflargespendingflagship programmessothatthebaddesignofpro grammescanbediscoveredandflawscor rected,beforefundingisreleasedthefollow ingyear.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit page/Plugtheholeinthebucket/articleshow/7557197.cms

ThankstotheRighttoInformationAct,2005, andalsotheactivismofNGOsandoftheme dia,acultureofaccountabilityisgrowinginthe country.Thatisthegoodnews.However,the media,NGOsandRTIactivistscanonlydoso much.Theycanfocustheattentionofthepub licandparliamentariansonegregiousscams, butrarelyaddressthesystemicflawsthatresult inleakageoffunds. Wehavealonghistoryofpubliclyfundedwel fareprogrammes.Ifprogrammesarewell designed,theywillbemoreeffectiveinreach ingthepoorandleakless.Butmostdeveloped economiesthathaveeffectiveprogrammes thatleaklittlealsohaveasystemwhichmoni tors,evaluatesandredesignsprogrammesto improveeffectiveness.Thetroubleiswedo verylittleofthefirsttwoandsoenduprepeat ingpastmistakes.Allthathappensisthatthe namesofwelfareprogrammeschangewhena newgovernmentcomestopowerwithvery littlefundamentalchangeinprogrammede sign. Theclassicexamplesofthisproblemofhistory repeatingitselfareallthewageemployment creatingpublicworksprogrammes thatIndiahasbeenfamousforindevelopment literature.Wehavehadanover40yearhistory ofsuchprogrammes,butitwasnotuntilthe NationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeActin 2005thatwefinallyhadawelldesignedpro grammethatreachedtheselftargetedbenefi ciaries,minimisedleakageandhashadamajor impact.PriortoNREGA,wehadaplethoraof programmesthatfedthecontractorpetty bureaucratnexus.Theyresultedinsomeinfra structurebutneithergeneratedthescaleof employmentthatwasneeded,norraisedmar ketwagesinruralareasorstemmedlargescale migrationasNREGAhassucceededindoing.It isnotsuggestedherethatNREGAhasnotfaced

leakageoffundsattimesonalargescalebuttheseare largelytheresultoffailuresinimplementation,notfailures ofdesign. Forfailuresofdesigntobediscovered,thereisaneedfor programmestobemonitoredwellusinganonline,pub liclyavailablemanagementinformationsystem(MIS)so thattheygeneratedatathatprogrammemanagersin centralministriescanthenusetoprovidefeedbacktothe stategovernmentsimplementingtheseprogrammes. However,ofthe14flagshipprogrammesofthecentral government,onlyeighthaveapubliclyaccessibleonline MIS.Moreover,therearewellknownissuesaboutthe authenticityofthedatatheseMISsprovidetothecentral lineministry.Inaddition,thereareissuesaboutthespeed withwhichthedatareachestheministryfromblocklevel. Oneoutcomeofthisstateofaffairsisthattheprimemin ister'sofficecreatedadeliverymonitoringunitin2009to runanMISontheflagshipprogrammes. Inanycase,monitoringsystemscanonlygeneratealim itedamountofinformationoninputs(e.g.financialre sourcesreleasedandspent)orprocesses.AnMISgivesthe managerverylittleinformationaboutoutputs(e.g.num beroftanksconstructed),letaloneoutcomes(e.g.quality ofschoollearning).Thosewhoimplementprogrammes alsoneedinformationonsuchindicators,especiallyto understandwhethertheirprogrammesarehavingthe outcomesoriginallydesired.Evenmoreimportantly,they needrigorousevaluationsonceeveryfewyears(usually fiveyears)tobeabletocheckiftheprogrammespending ishavingthedesiredimpact. However,wehaveonlyoneorganisationinthecountry thatspecialisesindoingevaluations,thePlanningCommis sion'sProgrammeEvaluationOrganisation(PEO).Itused tohave15officesaroundthecountrysoonafteritwas createdinthe1950s;thatnumberisdownto10even thoughgovernmentspendinghasgoneonincreasing,both inabsolutetermsaswellasashareofthecountry'sGDP. SincethenumberofstaffinthePEOengagedinevalua tionshasbeendwindling,mostevaluationshavebeen outsourcedtoNGOsorresearchinstitutions.Theymayor maynotknowthedifferencebetweenregularsocialsci

||13February2011
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MunicipalCorporationofAurangabadincurred lossesduetoawardofrepetativenatureof workoflayingofseweragepipelinesonthe samespot.Itwasalsoseenthattheoldpipes arebeingusedforthework.

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|DainikBhaskar|10February2011
. 187 , 73 1985 2003 , , , 420, 467, 468, 471, 120 7/13 (/) 200 187 , , 16.71 , , , ,
http://www.bhaskar.com/article/CHD-panchkula-billions-in-

Grampanchayatlandworthcrores.RentRs.1.Norecordsavailable.ThestoryofUttarPradesh|Tehelka|11February
NinebighasofprimelandliesvacantatDeva RoadontheoutskirtsofLucknow.Thepriceof thisland(abighais0.625acre),nowoverrunby wildgrass,weedandbushes,ismorethanRs.9 crore.Until2005,thislandbelongedtothe Nawbastakalagrampanchayat.Thevillagers wereplanningtobuildaschoolthere,says BansiDharSingh,whowasgrampradhanthen. Fivehomelessfamiliesstayedonthislandwith thegrampanchayatspermission.Thenthe familieswereevictedandthelandsnatched fromthegrampanchayat,tobegivenfreetoa privatetrustcalledthePhooleshwariDeviShik shanSansthan. GrampanchayatsinUttarPradeshwereap pointedcustodiansoflandtakenfromzamin darsandroyaltybytheUPZamindariAbolition andLandReformsAct,1950.Theyaretomain tainthelandthroughlandmanagementcom mittees,anduseitforhaatsorschools.Ifa committeesodesires,itcanassignaportionof thislandtohomelessorlandlessmembersof thevillage. TheallotmentofgrampanchayatlandinUPis governedbytwostategovernmentorders issuedon6June1981and9May1984.Accord ingtothe1984order,privatepersons,enter prisesandcompaniescanbeallottedgram panchayatlandonlyaftertheypaytwiceits currentmarketvalue.So,whywasthe PhooleshwariDeviShikshanSansthangiven landforfree? PhooleshwariDeviisthemotherofAmbikaChaudhary,who wastherevenueministerunderMulayamSinghYadavwhen thelandwasallotted.HissisterSarojmanagesthetrust.The RevenueDepartmentistheapexbodyonlandallotment. So,whenpeoplefoundoutthattheministerhadallotted primelandtoatrustmanagedbyhissister,therewascon siderableoutrage.ButChaudharybelievesotherwise.Is thereanythingwrongifvacantgramsabhalandisallotted toaprivateinstituterunbymyrelatives?Thisisnotan isolatedexampleasthousandsofsuchallotmentshave beenmadeinthepast,hesays. DocumentswithTEHELKAbackhisclaim.Thereisproofof 18privatetrustsinUttarPradeshthathavebeenallotted grampanchayatlandforfree,oronrentaslowasRs.1per annum. The1984ordersaysgrampanchayatlandcanbeallotted forfreeonlytothestategovernmentsservicedepart mentsthatdealwithwelfareconcernslikeeducationor health.AllCentralgovernmentdepartments,andeven commercialdepartmentsofthestate,suchastheUPPower CorporationLtdortheAgriculturalProduceMarketing Board(MandiParishad),willhavetopaythecurrentmar ketvaluetoacquiregrampanchayatland. Politiciansheadfouroftheprivatetruststhatgotgram panchayatland.Thepartiestheybelongtowerepartofthe UPgovernmentatthetimeofallotment.So,besidesChaud hary,thereisformerBJPMPRajnathSinghSurya,whoisthe SevaSamparnSansthanchairman.Thistrustwasallotted landforfreewhentheBJPwasinpowerin1999.Thenthere isVishramSinghYadav,whoistheSPMPfromBilgramin Hardoidistrict.KatiyariDegreeCollegein Hardoi,establishedbyatrustheadedby Yadav,wasallottedlandduringMulayams reignatameagrerentofRs.150peran num. BUTAL A 1981 order says land will be allotted only after MOSTas recording every fact. But shockingas Chaudharys there are no records for caseisthatof many places RamAasre Vishwakarma,highereducationministerin theSPgovernment.Asminister,hecould haveallottedlandforagovernmentuniver sity.Itwouldnthavebeenillegalifgram panchayatlandhadbeenallottedfreefor thispurpose.However,herecommended allotmentoflandtotheRambachanYadav Mahavidyalaya,aprivateinstitutionwhich hemanagesinAzamgarhdistrict.Itcharges annualfeeofRs.30,359forB.Edcourses. Yetithasbeenallottedanastoundingtwo hectareforonlyRs.750perannum. So,whileChaudharyhasallottedlandtoa trustheadedbyhissister,Vishwakarma unabashedlyallottedthesametoatrusthe wasatthehelmof. Thisrentperannumisfora99yearlease. Thus,eveniftrustshavebeencharged tokenrents,theyareasgoodasownersof

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Grampanchayatlandworthcrorescontinued
erstwhilegrampanchayatland.Thisisthecase withtheParamshaktiPeeth,whichhasbeen allocated43acresworthmorethanRs.20crore forarentofRs.1perannum.Thepeeth, foundedbySadhviRitambhara(alsoknownas DidiMaa)isawellknownreligiousorganisa tionwithofficesinCaliforniaandLondon.The landwasallottedwhentheBJPwasinpowerin 2001.Anotherreligioustrustallottedlanddur ingBJPrulewastheJaiGurudeoDharam PracharakSansthanfoundedbyBabaJaiGu rudeo.Itwasallottedlandin2007atarentof Rs.150perannum. Insomecases,thegovernmenthaspassed specialordersexemptingprivateenterprises fromthe1984orderthatasksthemtopay twicethemarketvalue.In2003,theSPgovern mentmovedanenergypolicythatspecifiedno premiumwouldbechargedforlandusedto promotethegenerationanddistributionof electricity.Asaresult,RelianceEnergywas allocated300bighasofgrampanchayatland foranannualrentofonlyRs.100peracre.But theprivatebodieslistedwithTEHELKA(seelist) cannothidebehindsuchexemptions.Their beingallottedgrampanchayatlandisanout rightviolationofthelaw. Itmightwellbethatsomeoftheprivatetrusts allottedgrampanchayatlandaredoingexcel lentsocialwork,saysRTIactivistIzharAhmad Ansariwhodugupthelistofviolators.Butthe lawthatsaystheymustbechargedtwicethe marketvalue oftheland. Is there anything wrong if Accordingto vacant gram sabha land is Ansari,side allotted to a private institute steppingthis run by my kin? asks Chaudhary lawmeans givingafree handtothosewhowanttousesuchtruststo grablandforthemselves. Besidesprivatetrusts,thelistpointstoland allottedforfreetoprivateenterpriseslike powerplants,refineriesandsugarmills.One suchfirmistheBadhauliSugarDistilleryLtd thathasbeenallottedmorethan31hectarefor free.Thelisthasfoursuchcommercialenter prisesinit.Thereisalsoaprivateindividual,Tej PratapSingh,whowasgivenmorethanhalfa hectareinHardoifortheridiculoussumofRs. 8,695in2004tosetupaflourmill. BUTTHEworstisyettocome.These18names, exposedbyAnsariafterfouryearsofrepeat edlyfilingRTIcomplaintsandPILs,areonlythe tipoftheiceberg.Tounderstandhow,follow thissequenceofevents: 10November2006:ThePIOattheUPRevenue DepartmentreceivesanRTIapplicationfrom Ansariaskingfordetailsofanygrampanchayat landallotmenttoprivatebodiesexceeding5 bighas,from1991onwards. 1February2007:Afternotreceivingareply, AnsarifilesacomplaintwiththeStateInformationCom mission(SIC). 28March2007:PIORamakantPandeyrespondssayingthe departmenthasnotkepttheinformationthathasbeen soughteventhoughitshouldhave.Thatiswhytherehas beenadiscussiononthismatterwithinthedepartment andadecisionhasbeentakentoprepareaformatand procurethisinformationfromtheoutset(thatwouldbe from1981)notjustfrom1991. 22August2007:TheSICisprovidedwithonly20namesof privatebodiesthathavebeenallottedgrampanchayat land,alongwithaletter,whichsaysthatthisinformation onlyconsistsofallotmentsmadefrom2004to2006,and thatmoreinformationisbeingprocured. 24December2007:TheSICimposesafineofRs.25,000 onPIOPandeyfornotprovidingtheinformation. 7January2008:AnsarifilesanotherRTIapplication,asking specificallyforthedetailsofgrampanchayatlandthathas beenallocatedforfreetoprivatebodies. 15August2008:TheSICreceivesaletterfromthePIOat theRevenueDepartmentsayingsuchrecordshavenot beenmaintainedinanydistrictinthewholeofUP. 14November2008:TheRevenueDepartmentwritesto districtmagistratesanddivisionalcommissionerswhoare inchargeoflandallotmentsaskingthemtoprovidethe informationAnsarihasaskedfor. 27November2008:TheRevenueDepartmentwritesto theSICsayingdespitetheabovementionednotice,no informationhasbeenreceivedfromthedistricts. 4December2008:TheRevenueDepartmentissuesan othernoticetodistrictmagistratesanddivisionalcommis sionerstopresentthemselvesinpersonandgiveareplyto Ansarisqueryby30December. 30December2008:TheSICinformsAnsarioftheRevenue Departmentseffortsandsaystheinformationwilltake time. 15January2009:Thistime,theRevenueDepartment presentstheSICwithjust10namesofprivatebodiesthat havebeenallottedgrampanchayatlandforfree.Someof thesenameswerealreadythereinthe20namessubmit tedearlier.Thedepartmentsaysthatthisisalltheycan find. 29January2009:PIOPandeynowrequeststheSICto cancelthefineofRs.25,000imposedonhimastheinfor mationhasstillnotbeenprovidedtoAnsari,evenbythe PIOswhocameafterhim.Sowhyshouldhebepenalised alone? 3February2009:TheRevenueDepartmentwritesAnsari anotherlettersayingthatprocuringtheinformationwill takemoretime.Theyattachwiththisletterthesame10 namestheyhavegivenbefore. 22September2009:TheRevenueDepartmentwritesto theSICsayingtheycantfindanyallotmentdetailsother thanwhattheyhavealreadyprovided.Wehaveprovided whateverinformationwecouldfind.Theapplicantiscon tinuingtofilethesecomplaintsinordertotroubleus,it says. Now,letuscometotheotherordergoverningtheallot mentofgrampanchayatland,passedon16June1981. Thisstipulatesthatsuchlandwillbeallottedonlyafterthe detailshavebeenrecordedinaregisterinaformatthat incorporateseverydetailandsignedbytheofficialsin volved.Also,thaton15Januaryand15Julyofeveryyear theserecordswillbeforwardedtotheReve nueDepartment. Yet,ashasbeenstatedabovebythedepart mentitself,theserecordshaveapparently notbeenkeptandtheregistersarenottobe found.Orarentthey? ThefirstlistofnameswasgiventoAnsarion 22August2007.Thiswasmorethantwo monthsafterMayawatiwassworninaschief ministeron13May2007.Alookatthelist showsthattheallotmentdetailsgivenoutby theBSPgovernmentindictonlySPandBJP politicians.But,liketheSPandtheBJP,the BSPhasbeenpartofUPgovernmentstoo. CanitbethatnotasingleBSPpoliticianis involvedinsuchfraudulentgrampanchayat landallocations? THISLISTliesinmanyways.Forone,itmisses someobviousnames.Likegrampanchayat landgiventoatrustnamedafterSanjay GandhiinPilibhit,whereManekaGandhiis theBJPMP.Itresultedinafurore,whichled toaCBIinquiry.Manekadeniedwrongdoing. TheRevenueDepartmentdoesnotseemto havearecord. OrlikeJayaJaitly,whowaschairpersonofthe SahkariHaatSamiti,whichwasapparently allocatedgrampanchayatlandatGaneshpur RehmanpurvillageinLucknowdistrict.When Ansariapproachedthedistrictauthorities andtheStateInformationCommissionto obtaindetails,hewastoldthatthedocu mentshavegonemissing.Inashowofsincer ity,thedistrictmagistratesofficeeven lodgedanFIRaboutfilenumber121/DLRC goingmissing. Thedistrictsareadifferentstoryaltogether. AnsarifiledRTIsandaskedofficialsineach districtwhethersuchallotmentshadbeen made.Theyeitherdidntanswerorrepliedin thenegative.YetthelistwithTEHELKAshows threesuchallotmentsinHardoi.Thesameis thecasewithAllahabad.Andmanymore. Andfinally,the The Mayawati govmoney.Goingby ernment is offering land allotment details whatthestateReve only of the SP and the nueDepartment says,thisisntsucha BJP. What of the bigscamafterall. BSP? Thevaluesofgram panchayatlandthatSurya,YadavandVish wakarmahavebeenlinkedtoarepeggedat onlyRs.5lakh,Rs.4.83lakhandRs.17lakh respectively.Whyshouldonebeworried aboutsuchpaltrysums? Ifyougobytherecords,thelandChaudhary hasbeenaccusedoftryingtousurpisvalued atjustRs.31lakh.Butthepriceoflandhere todayis1croreperbigha,saysformerNaw bastakalagrampradhanBansiDharSingh. SothevalueofninebighaswouldbeRs.9 crore.
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp? filename=Ne220111Gram_panchayat.asp#

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,|RajasthanPatrika|12February2011
74 119 11 30 50 - - , , 100 - , http://www.rajasthanpatrika.com/news/ Ganganagar/2122011/ganganagar-news/121443

Rs50croregoesdowntheponds| IndianExpress|19January2011
Bundelkhand:Mostof4,000oddpondscan neitherholdwaternorfitforrearingfish Althoughmoneyhasbeenspentlikewater Rs50croreondiggingpondsinBundelk handregionforwaterconservationandpro vidingemploymenttotheBPLScheduled Castefamilies,noconcretebenefithasflown outofthem. DugthroughtheCentrallyassistedBundelk handpackage,thesepondsareneithersuit abletoholdwaternorcantheybeusedfor rearingfish,throughwhichtheywouldhave providedemployment.After4,061pondsout ofthesanctioned5,027pondsarecomplete, theDistrictRuralDevelopmentAuthority (DRDA),Jhansithenodalofficeforthe schemehaswrittentothestategovern menttorecommendsomechangesinthe design. Wehavedugthesepondsaccordingto guidelines.Butaftertalkingtoexpertsfrom differentdepartments,wehavefoundthat somechangesneedtobedonewiththedi mensionsandhavewrittentotheRuralDevel opmentDepartment.Assoonaswegetthe clearance,wewillgetthesepondsdugfurther andemployjobcardholdersforthepurpose, saidGPGautam,projectdirectorofDRDA, Jhansi. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rs50 croregoesdowntheponds/739355/

|Loksatta|10February2011
MunicipalCorporationofAurangabadtookno penalactionagainstdefaultersofPropertyTax andWaterTax,whosecheques(150)amount ingtoRs.42lakhbounced. () . . . . . . . (..) . . . , , . . , . , . . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . .
http://www.loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135508:201102-10-17-48-08&catid=48:2009-07-15-04-02-19&Itemid=59

| Amar Ujala | 18 February 2011

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, , ,
http://epaper.amarujala.com/svww _ zoomart.php? Artname=20110218a_ 014190016&ileft=586&itop= 800&zoomRatio=269&AN=20110218a _ 014190016

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Amachinesweptunderthecarpet|Expressbuzz|24January2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM:Itstimethebig fatvehicleisgearedupforsomereal work.Theadvancedroadsweepingvehi clethattheCorporationhadboughtfora whoppingRs73.5lakhundertheJawahar lalNehruNationalUrbanRenewalMission (JNNURM)hasbeenkeepingitsservice limitedtoselectroadsformonths.Even withmoreroadsgettingreadyand opened,theCorporationisyettoconsider extendingittomoreroads. IfitwastosweeptheVellayambalam KowdiarroadandtheVazhuthacaud Manaveeyamroad,wasnttheamount spentonitabittoomuch,isthequestion nowbeingraisedbyresidentsassocia tionsinadjacentareas.TheSasthaman galamroad,theThampanoorOverbridge road,theAirportroadandnearbyarterial roadsareareaswherealsoitshouldbe pressedintoservice,aresidentsassociationmem berinSasthamangalamsaid. ItwasinJune2010thatthevehiclewasfirstputto serviceinthecity.Atthattime,a35kmstretchwas chartedoutbytheHealthStandingCommittee, wherethevehiclewaspressedintoservice.The vehicleisbeingusedatnighthourstoavoidany inconveniencetothepublic.Thatitisbeingusedat midnightisthereasonwhyresidentsdonotseeit sweatingandworking,saidaCorporationHealth official. Itisbeingputtouseeveryday,buthowitsservice canbemademoreefficientwillbethoughtof,said Pushpalatha,HealthStandingCommitteeChairper son. However,Pushpalathaseemedcompletelyataloss onthecurrentrouteofthevehicleortherealpur poseforwhichitwasacquired. Ifitcouldberescheduledtoworkonthe42km stretchandmoreplaceswheretheroadworksare nearingcompletion,isbeingconsid ered,saidaHealthofficial. Themachinewassupposedtomakeup fortheshortageofCorporationroad sweepersandcomehandytocleanthe streets,aftermajorcelebrations.The vehiclehadsucceededaGermansweep ingmachinewhichwasgiftedtothe CorporationbytheTourismDepart ment.TheGermanmachinewasidling awayitstimeattheCorporationgarage formonthswhentheBigBrotherwas bought. http://expressbuzz.com/cities/ thiruvananthapuram/amachine%E2% 80%98sweptunderthecarpet%E2% 80%99/241878.html

CAGwantstoauditruraljobscheme|TimesofIndia|8February2011
NEWDELHI:ComptrollerandAuditorGen eral(CAG)hasaskedtheCentretomakean institutionalisedauditsystemforjobguaran teeschemewithakeyroleforit. CAGsaidMGNREGAaccountsshouldbe auditedineverydistrictannuallybyLocal FundAuditorcharteredaccountantsap pointedbystategovernments,andthey shouldbeempoweredtogiveordersonhow toaudit.CAGhasdemandedtherightto auditMGNREGAaccountsatthefrequencyit desires. TheserecommendationsformpartofCAG's viewsonthe'auditrules'Unionruraldevel opment(RD)ministryhasdraftedtocreate aninstitutionalisedauditingsystemforthe expenditureintensivejobguaranteescheme. TheissuecameupfordiscussionattheFebruary2func tionheldtoobservefifthanniversaryofthejobscheme. UPAchairpersonSoniaGandhiandPrimeMinis terManmohanSinghdrewtheattentiontocorruptionin theschemeandsoughtmeasurestoplugloopholesin thelaw. TheRDministryhasformedacommitteetodiscuss CAG'srecommendations,butthecivilsocietycriticised themoveasdilatorytactics. AstatementfromArunaRoy'sMazdoorKisanShakti Sangathansaid,therewasnoneedtodiscussthese pointsanymoresincetheyhadcomeoutofseveral committees,includingtheworkinggroupsofCentral EmploymentGuaranteeCouncil. Whiletheministryhasrecommendedchangesin MGNREGA'srulestocreatethesystemof `socialaudit',CAGsaidtherehadtobe arrangementsforfunds'scrutinyinits entirety. Afew`sampleperformanceaudits'has exposedtherotacrossstates.However, thereisnostatutorymechanismtoputa periodicandexhaustivescanneronthe misuseoffunds. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ india/CAGwantstoauditruraljob scheme/articleshow/7447288.cms

RecallallBPLcards,Lokayuktatellsgovt|DeccanChronicle|16February2011
Inthelightoftherampantcorruptioninthe distributionofBPL(belowpovertyline)cards andthehugelosscausedtotheStateex chequer,LokayuktaJusticeN.SantoshHegde hasrecommendedthegovernmentwith drawallsuchcardsandissuethemafresh. JusticeHegdesreport,submittedtothe governmentonMonday,hasnotedthatthe Statehasabout40lakhexcessBPLcardsin circulation. LokayuktaJusticeHegdehadtakenupsuo motuinquiryintotheallegedmisuseofBPL cardsandnotedthattheStatewaslosingRs 100crorepermonthduetothis.ALokayuktaofficial saidthattheinquiryrevealedthatthoughthereareonly 1.20croreeligiblefamiliesbelowpovertyline,excessive cardsweredistributedbasedonaffidavitsfloutingall rules.Ithasalsobeenrevealedthat75percentofsuch cardswereissuedduringthelastParliamentaryelec tions. Politicians,acrossparties,pressurisedtheauthoritiesto issueBPLcardsbasedonaffidavitswithfalseclaims.The officialshavenotcrosscheckedthedocumentsand issuedthecardsinahurry.Ihavesuggestedthatallthe cardsbewithdrawnandreissuedbasedonguidelines laiddownbytheUniongovernmentasitisnotpossible tosalvagethesituationnow,Justice Hegdesaid. However,Departmentofficialsinsistthat theproblemcanberectifiedbyverifying LPGconnections,rationcardsandelectric bills.AnofficialsaidCometTechnologies, whichwasoutsourcedthetaskofBPL carddistribution,wastoblameforthe fiasco. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/ bengaluru/recallallbplcardslokayukta tellsgovt474

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PMClandworthRs2,500croreencroachedbylandmafia|BiharTimes|7February2011
Patna:LandworthRs2,500croreofPatna MunicipalCorporationhasbeenencroachedby variousbigandsmalllandmafia. AfterthePatnaHighCourtcamedownheavily onittheCorporationisreportedlyplanningto recoverthem.Whetheritsucceedsornotis altogetheradifferentstory. Authoritiesblametherisingpriceoflandin Patnatotheseencroachments.Theyareofthe viewthatifalltheselandarerecoveredfrom themafiaandresidentialandcommercialstruc turesbuilttherealestatepricewouldcrash down.Itneedstoberecalledthatinthelast fiveyearsthepriceoflandandapartmentsin Patnahavegotdoubledandtripled.Though SuratinGujaratisarelativelybigcityanddefi nitelymuchmoreindustrialisedthoseinthe businesssaythatthepriceisalmosthalfthatof Patna. RecentlyaseniorCorporationofficialwas quotedintheTelegraphassaying:PMCowns about400acresoflandinprimelocalities acrossthecity.Butthelandmafiaisinpossessionofmuch ofitoverthepastseveralyears.Ifthislandcanberescued andusedforcommercialandresidentialpurposes,prop ertypricesinthecitywillcomedown. Butthelandmafiawithrightpoliticalandadministrative connectionswouldnotallowthistohappen. InplaceslikeFrazerRoad,BuddhaMargandExhibition Road,akatthaoflandcostsuptoRsonecrore.Hadthe governmentplotsbeenavailable,thepricewouldhave beenmuchless,NileshKumarSinha,anownerofcity basedrealestatecompany,OmConstruction,wasquoted. Nowthegovernmenthasappointedaprivateconsultant tostudyandsurveythelandownedbyPMC.Thereportis likelytobeavailablein10days. Oncethereisaclearpictureoftheavailableland,wecan planbetteronhowtouseit.Butthiswilltaketime,the officialsaid. http://www.bihartimes.in/Newsbihar/2011/Feb/ Newsbihar07Feb5.html

Viramgamlandscam|Indian Express|16February2011 TheAhmedabaddistrictpolicehas receivedcomplainantsfromsixmore peopleintheViramgamlandscam case.Thepolicesaidthesixcom plainantsarepoordalitfarmersfrom Ahmedabaddistrict.AccusedShanti lalVadlaniisadistrictPanchayat memberandthesonofformerCon gressMLAPremjiVadlani. Shantilalwasarrestedfollowinga complaintbyJunagadhfarmerDilip Patel,whohadbought80bighasof landfromhimin2008forRs26.51 lakh.Shantilalhadsoldthesameplot tooneJituPatelfromGandhinagar in2007. SandeepSingh,Superintendentof Police,Ahmedabaddistrict,said: Shantilalhasconfessedthathe dupedtwopersonsbysellingthe sameplotoflandtwice.Wehave recentlyfoundoutthatheworkedas AhmedabadDistrictCooperative (ADC)bankloanofficer.ADCbank employeeswhoworkedwithhimare underourscanner. Singhadded:Shantilalhadcarried outpreliminarypaperworkwithDilip forsevenplotsoflandandforthree plotsthereweresaledocuments.He carriedoutthesamefraudwithJitu earlier.Wehavereceivedcomplaints ofthreatsbyinformersandother victimswhoclaimedthatShantilalis indirectlycreatingpressureonthem topreventthemfromcooperating intheinvestigation. http://www.indianexpress.com/ news/viramgamlandscam panchayatmemberdupedsixdalit

Legalcoverforsuchbuildings?|AhmedabadMirror|2February2011
Stategovtisplanningbilltoregulariseillegal structuresbyimposingimpactfeetomitigate theproblemsfacedbythecommonman Whilepeoplesangeragainstunauthorised constructionhasspilledontostreetsandthe highcourthasmadeAhmedabadMunicipal Corporationsealordemolishsuchbuildings, thestategovernmentisplanningtoregularise thembychargingtheoccupantsanimpactfee. TheNarendraModigovernmenthasdrafteda billtothiseffectanditislikelytobeintroduced inthebudgetsessionoftheVidhanSabhathis month. TheproposedGujaratRegularisationofUnau thorisedDevelopmentBill,2011,whenpassed andenacted,willgivethebuildersahugerelief fromtheGujaratHighCourtordertodemolish illegalconstructionsinAhmedabad.Thebillis likelytohaveasmoothsailgiventhebrute majoritytheBJPenjoysintheHouse. Thelegaldepartmenthasadvisedtheurban developmentdepartmentandthegovernment alsoplanstoamendBombayProvincialMunici palityActsuitably. Confirmingthemove,UrbanDevelopment MinisterNitinPateltoldMirror,Localself governmentbodiestakenecessarymeasures accordingtotheexistinglaws.Butwhenit comestopolicies,theyhavetodependonthe stategovernment.Thatswhyweareintroduc ingabillintheassembly. Wehaveinformedthehighcourtthatsomeof theillegalconstructionswillbelegalisedin ordertomitigatetheproblemsofthecommon man. Thebillproposedinpublicinterestaimsatmakingthe presentoccupantsofunauthorisedstructurespayanim pactfeetogetthemregularised.This,despiteastrong publicopinionagainstsuchillegalconstructionsasseenin theaftermathoftheKalupurbuildingcollapselastweek thatkilledfivepeople. SourcesintheSecretariatclaimedthattheprovisionsof thebillhavebeenframedunderinstructionsfromthe chiefministersoffice. Interestingly,thebillhasnoprovisionstopenaliseorpun ishbuilders,politiciansandbureaucratsinvolvedinen couragingsuchillegalconstructionsthoughthesecould nothavecomeupwithouttheircomplicity.Thecollapseof thebuildinginSaudagarniPolinKalupurshowedthatthe peoplelivinginthewalledcityareawerethreatenedbya buildingmafiathatbuiltsuchstructuresviolatingthelaw and forced residents into silence. Thepro posedbill willalso benefit shopown ersand Inlessthanaweekintothecollapseofthis builders illegalbuildinginSaudagarniPolthatkilled onCG fivepeople,themoversandshakersinthe Road governmentwerebusydevisingplansto wherethe keepbuildershappy highcourt hasorderedAMCtodemolishillegalconstructions. Tothecommonman,thebillmeansthatthepresentoccu pantofapropertythatabuildermayhaveraisedillegally

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Legalcoverforsuchbuildings?continued
bygreasingthepalmsofofficialsoftheurban developmentdepartment,municipalitiesor municipalcorporationswillhavetoshelloutan impactfeetogettheconstructionregular ised.Thepropertymayhavechangedseveral handsovertheyearsbuttheoccupantofthe daywillhavetopay,allowingtheerringbuilder andofficialstogoscotfree. Between1996and2010,anestimated20lakh illegalbuildingshavecomeupinthestate, urbandevelopmentsourcesclaimed.Twolakh illegalbuildingshavecomeupinAhmedabad aloneduringthisperiod,aseniorurbandevel opmentofficialtoldMirror. Someoftheprovisionsoftheproposedbillare controversial,thereasonthatasimilarBill passedin2001metwithlittlesuccess. TheofficialtoldMirrorthattheproposedbill willcorrectthelapsesoftheBillpassedin2001 The2001Acthasseveralprocedurallapses.Theapproval processwaslengthy,requiringthesanctionofseveral officials.Besides,structuresraisedinviolationoftheAct, thetownplanningschemes,theBPMCandotheracts,will begiventhenod.Thiswillalsoincluderegularisingbreach ofFSIpermitted,infringementofmarginandprojections, andviolationofnonagriculturallandnorms.Theendusers willbeaskedtopayforalltheseirregularities,theofficial said. Secretariatsourcesfurtherclaimedthatthebillhasbeen plannedtobenefittheoccupantswhocansleeppeacefully oncetheypayfortheillegalconstruction.Evenincasesof encroachmentuponprivateland,decisionwillbetaken keepinginmindtheoccupantandnottheownerofthe pieceofland,officialssaid. Thepolicyframeworkforrecoveryofimpactfeewillbring incroresofrupeestotheexchequer.Itwillovershadow incomefromthenowabolishedoctroi,asourceadded. Aninterestingfalloutofthelaw,whenen acted,willbetheregularisationofencroach mentuponpasturesasthereisnospecific mentionofitinthedraft,theofficialpointed out.ThiswillgoagainsttheSupremeCourt directivetofreeallpanchayatlandofen croachments. However,encroachmentsonpiecesofland withnaturalwaterbodieslikerivers,lakes andnaturalsewage,andforestwillnotbe regularised.Alsounauthorisedstructureson municipalcorporationsandstategovernment land,andtownplanningroadswillnotget thenod.Moreover,anyconstructionthatcan affectthepublicinterestwillnotgetthe clearance

CAGinnewsrecently
Rulesviolationsledtofundwastage:CAG CAGquestionsAirIndiaon111aircraftorder:report CAGreportsseriouslapsesinPFAccounts CAGblamesKalmadiforCWGdelays DebttraploomslargeoverUP EPFOhasnorealsurplus,saysCAG CAGwantstoauditruraljobscheme CAGhighlightsgovtfailureinsubmittingreportstimely Singlebiddersruledatspacedept:CAG
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jan3111/at05 http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/CAGasksquestionstoAirIndiafor111aircraftreport/5069017492 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/cagreportsseriouslapsesinpfaccounts/ articleshow/7401238.cms http://www.businessstandard.com/india/news/cagblameskalmadiforcwgdelays/424147/ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/DebttraploomslargeoverUP/articleshow/7428702.cms http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/epfohasnorealsurplussayscag/567524.html http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CAGwantstoauditruraljobscheme/articleshow/7447288.cms http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/CAGhighlightsgovtfailureinsubmittingreportstimely/ articleshow/7478949.cms http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SinglebiddersruledatspacedeptCAG/articleshow/7484187.cms

RSVP
PravindraYadav,Director,LBDivision:pravindraY@cag.gov.in MGanesh,DeskOfficer,LBDivision:aao3pri@cag.gov.in

Local Bodies Division

Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India 9, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg New Delhi - 110 124Y

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