Eyebrows raised over move to involve public reps in govt schemes

LUCKNOW: Eyebrows have been raised in political circles over the Uttar Pradesh government’s move to involve public representatives in implementation of two more programmes, as it comes barely five months before the state goes into poll mode.

The state government, in two different orders issued last month, asked for participation of public representatives in “publicizing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Reorganised Mausam Aadharit Fasal Bima Yojana” and amended rules to nominate them as members of the district mineral foundation.

“The state government has no intention to involve public representatives in implementation of its programmes/ schemes. Whatever the state government is doing has political motives. It’s doing everything with an eye on 2022 assembly elections and obviously wants to use opportunity of implementation of government schemes for political purpose,” said Ram Govind Chaudhary, Samajwadi Party MLA and leader of opposition in the state assembly.

Chaudhary’s apprehensions about possible political motives behind the orders are not unfounded.

Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are to be held early next year and the Election Commission of India’s code of conduct may come into force in coming months. The state government’s order dated August 31, 2021 about involvement of public representatives in publicizing the crop insurance scheme said “There is a programme to celebrate Fasal Bima Saptah during Rabi season from December 1, 2021 to December 7, 2021. A celebration would also be held on January 13, 2022 on the day of implementation of Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The participation of public representatives in publicity of the scheme will boost participation of farmers.”

The state government’s order further asked the district magistrates to “ensure participation of MPs, MLCs, MLAs, district panchayat presidents, district panchayat members, block pramukhs, village pradhans and others to ensure more and more participation of farmers in the scheme to get them insurance cover and maximum benefits.”

Senior officers of agriculture and mines and mineral departments were not available for comments.

Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ said, “The state government’s decision to involve public representatives in these schemes has come a bit late. This may be too close to elections and the Election Commission of India may announce the programme for 2022 assembly elections at the end of year.”

Congress MLC Deepak Singh said the state government was well aware that most of the BJP MLAs were not happy with its functioning. He said the state government wanted to keep them in good humour as they had been feeling neglected in the past four and a half years. He said many BJP leaders remained involved in mining and various other such activities in the districts and under such a situation, nominating public representatives as members of the mineral foundation would not help bring about transparency.

BSP MLA Lalji Verma, who was recently expelled from the party, said involvement of public representatives in implementation of government schemes had always been needed. He said the move to involve public representatives in publicity of crop insurance scheme close to elections, however, had political overtones.

Speaker Hridaya Narain Dikshit said the public representatives were part of various committees and members of p arliament headed a committee to monitor progress of implementation of government schemes.

He said the district plan was formulated in consultation with the public representatives. The Yogi government wanted that the people directly benefited from the government schemes and decision to ensure participation of public representatives in more schemes was a welcome step in this direction.