Shadow Correspondent
Ramnagar, Jan, 08
Expressing grave concern over growing culture of corruption in the state, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister today appealed the Governor to strengthen the anti graft bodies including SAC, SVC and SIC so as to ensure the much needed accountability and transparency in govt functioning. He said that the deep rooted culture of patronized corruption was fast spreading its tentacles and had plagued and engulfed the entire system in the absence of an effective control mechanism. He said that most alarming aspect of corruption was not the money exchanging hands in the unwholesome bargains but the open defiance of norms and laws, fearlessness and the audacity displayed by the corrupt elements in executing such illegal bargains. He said that despite several media reports of scams pertaining to allotments of contracts to favourites, execution of public works without tenders, backdoor appointments and paid transfers besides other scams of gargantuan proportions during the last four years, no cognizance had been taken by the govt or vigilante organizations. He regretted that despite some deptts having been identified by the Governor himself, the much needed action against the corrupt was still elusive. He was addressing huge public meetings in Jandrari, Kaghote, Chanunta and Sermanjla Villages of Ramnagar constituency.
Addressing large gatherings, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that last few years witnessed a mad race amongst various ministries for effecting transfers of govt functionaries without having any regard for the aptitude, efficiency or suitability of the incumbents. He said that thousands of transfers effected in the most arbitrary and clandestine manner had exposed the ministers besides MLAs who recommended such transfers and had exploded the myth of good governance. He said the transfers which were supposed to be made in the interest of administration for making the delivery of public services efficacious and efficient were made on monetary and other extraneous considerations and had created a lot of resentment amongst the general masses and govt employees.
Calling for a probe into the transfer Industry which flourished in the recent past in the Deptts of Health, Education, Forest, Power, Revenue, PHE and Social Welfare in particular, Mr. Singh called for the constitution of SIT to unearth the alleged extraneous considerations and violations of prescribed norms. He said premature transfers running into several hundreds in the said Deptts in violation of Transfer policy and stipulated norms had beaten all previous records of whimsical transfers and needed due cognizance of the Governor.
Maintaining further that not only was the transfer Industry flourishing in the State, but the funds meant for development schemes were plundered and looted by corrupt politicians in league with vested interests and unscrupulous govt. functionaries. Making a particular mention of Ramnagar constituency, he said that during last four years hardly any development activity was visible on the ground in the said constituency despite tall announcements of huge funds having been made available for various projects. He said that even the routine maintenance grants meant for repairs, renovations etc nowhere seemed to have been utilized on the ground.
Mr. Singh lambasted in strongest possible words the loot and plunder indulged in by the Power Dev Deptt in Majalta, Basantgarh and Ramnagar Tehsils where its officers were charging money from public for replacing the damaged transformers. He said that it was unheard that public should be asked to pay for replacement of damaged transformers for which the provision existed with the Deptt. He regretted that several complaints of irregularity in PHE Ramnagar went unheeded and un-addressed. He further called for enquiry into large scale complaints of transfers and attachments of Teachers and Masters having been effected in Ramnagar constituency on extraneous considerations. He called for a probe into the embezzlements in CAPD and huge pilferage of station in various villages of the constituency. He said that the erstwhile regime had totally failed to dispense justice to the people of Jammu region particularly the rural and remote areas who were eagerly awaiting for right time to respond appropriately.
Mrs. Manju Singh sought early release of payment to the farmers whose lands had been acquired for construction of PMGSY roads.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Sunder Rani Sarpanch, Prikshat Singh Sarpanch, Devinder Singh Sarpanch, Sheela Devi Sarpanch, Des Raj Sarpanch, Pawan Dev Singh, Pt. Shiv Ram, Liaqat Ali, Ram pal Bhagat, Vishab Dev Singh, Vijay Kumar, Ankesh, Onkar Singh, Pawan Sharma, Mushtaq Ahmed besides others.
