Attempts to bypass districts ‘retrograde’: Lok Satta

Hyderabad, Jan 16: The Lok Satta Party on Saturday termed as ‘retrograde’ the plea by Minister for Revenue Dharmana Prasada Rao to the Centre to earmark funds under Centrally sponsored schemes directly to the State Government instead of to districts. Mr Prasada Rao had made the plea when he represented Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at the State Finance Ministers’ conference in New Delhi on January 13.Talking to the media here today, Lok Satta Party leaders Dr P Bhaskar Rao and N Saroja Devi pointed out that the reason adduced by the State for its request was strange to say the least.

 The State Government contended it had no idea of the allocations to districts under different schemes.  Instead of asking for copies of funds allocation orders under different schemes, the State would like to deprive districts of direct central funding.Although the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments, enacted more than 15 years ago, provided for devolution of resources and powers on local governments, the State Government has not implemented them.

 Given to centralization of power, successive Governments are not prepared to strengthen governance at the third tier.Administration in the State would not have come to a standstill had the third tier of Government d been strengthened, the Lok Satta leaders said. Victims of 2009 October floods continued to live in make-shift tents even to this day.  Bulk of the NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) remained unutilized.