Over the past 30 years, the systems and institutions of Jammu and Kashmir have not worked the way they were meant to and the PDP-BJP government is building new systems and create avenues of employment, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said here today.
Replying to the debate on Budget in the Assembly, he acknowledged that the systems of governance cannot change overnight but said the government is modifying institutional structures to restore efficiency and transparency.
He said proposals made in the Budget for 2016-17 will overhaul the systems of governance and restore accountability of institutions in the state.
The rate of J&K's growth has been projected from nearly 13 percent last fiscal to about 14 percent in the Annual Budget 2016-17, the Finance Minister said.
"The policy adopted by the government will focus on building new systems and creating avenues of employment. Over the past 30 years all the systems and our institutions have not worked the way they were meant to do so," Drabu said.
Citing the example of Jammu Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation, the Finance Minister said the Public Sector Undertaking used to sub-contract the award of distribution of ration to third parties, resulting in delays, revenue loss and corruption.
"My work will be to build systems. We will restore the institutions of governance. We want J&K to be a state where systems function independently without anyone's personal interests, because none of us have any personal interests," he said.
Drabu said the District Development Board meetings were held ahead of the Budget Session for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir and the systems of governance and democracy are being strengthened under the leadership of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
"For the first time, we have made it mandatory that unless the MLAs sign the proposals of DDB meetings, it will not be cleared. It is not a one-sided affair. The MLAs must realize what they say in this House, they are accountable to people, because what they say can have grave ramifications on the state," he said.
"Streamlining systems doesn't require budgetary allocation. It requires political will and efficiency in the systems," Drabu said.
He said the new procurement policy for Roads and Buildings Department and CAPD Department proposed in the Budget will bring transparency in our institutions.
No budget will carry any meaning unless there is transparency and accountability of the systems, he said.
