Development Councils Fail To Meet Objectives

GUWAHATI: The development councils created by the previous Congress regime to bring about development for different ethnic communities in the State, have literally become white elephants.

The present regime in Dispur has not only slashed the budgetary allocation for 33 development councils but also marginalized their roles in the implementation of various schemes. In 2011, the then Congress government created the development councils with the tall claims of decentralization of power as well as faster development of various ethnic communities. But in recent years these councils have become platforms to rehabilitate handful of some leaders.

The previous Congress government allocated funds to the tune of Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore to the development council to execute various schemes. Sources, however, said funds were grossly misutilized and enriched the personal coffers of some leaders who were influential in the erstwhile regime at Dispur.

The State Government recently reviewed the performance of the development councils and decided to make the department for the welfare of plains tribes and backward classes as the nodal agency to implement various schemes of the councils. The role of development councils will be limited to submission of schemes only.

Official sources said the present BJP-led government has found that the development council was created with the sole objective of political rehabilitation of some leaders. The government has strongly felt that the functioning of the councils needs to streamlined and thus taking corrective steps.

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