More fury than fire, image takes a hit : The Tribune India

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Capt's Charge—Round 1

More fury than fire, image takes a hit

For any state government, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is the nerve centre, working to strengthen the Cabinet and executive processes on behalf of the Chief Minister and his ministers. During the Congress government’s first year in Punjab, though, the nerves were a bit overexcited, with a rush of signalling in every direction.

More fury than fire, image takes a hit

The tussle between the bureaucrats in the team and the politician lobby kept the pot of intrigue boiling. Illustrations: Sandeep Joshi



CMO: Advisers more handful than handy

For any state government, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is the nerve centre, working to strengthen the Cabinet and executive processes on behalf of the Chief Minister and his ministers.

During the Congress government’s first year in Punjab, though, the nerves were a bit overexcited, with a rush of signalling in every direction. Much energy was spent on controlling bushfires in the CMO, which ignited even as Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh attempted to put together a team of officers, with an edge over the political class. The tussle between the bureaucrats in the team and the politician lobby kept the pot of intrigue boiling.

A point of boil-over was reached when Chief Principal Secretary to the CM Suresh Kumar was asked to be removed from the position by the High Court. Till the time a Division Bench order restored Suresh Kumar in the role, the CMO saw a lull that proved how crucial the bureaucrat was to the functioning of the office. The episode, however, left the ‘palace intrigues’ against the officer an open secret.

The alleged role of a close political aide — who had stood by Capt Amarinder Singh while Akalis were in power for 10 years — and two senior bureaucrats in playing the games, of course, gave the Opposition ammunition to attack the government. Ultimately, the Chief Minister had to speak up for his man, and silence all talk, at least for now. The resignation of Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh over sand-mining taint was the other setback the government, and the Chief Minister personally, faced.

The clash of interests among the swarm of advisers around Capt Amarinder Singh was quite plain as the CMO driven by bureaucracy put a check on their ambitions. There is a subtle resentment among the political advisers and OSDs. The situation has also led to the charge from within the party that due political representation is missing in the decision-making process. Party leaders, after all, have come to power after 10 years!

Though not officially, political advisers have been told to stick to their brief of assisting the CM on issues other than the running of the government. They are thus now seen only when the Chief Minister visits the CMO to attend Cabinet meetings.

‘Restoring people’s confidence in govt’

Punjab’s transformation and progress on all fronts, and the success of my government in restoring the confidence of the people, is our biggest achievement. And it is not just the ordinary citizens who are now feeling more secure, thanks to the marked improvement in law and order, but also the investors whose confidence has been revived. The elimination of gangsters and cracking of targeted-killing cases are significant accomplishments of the police.

On agriculture, too, successive smooth procurement seasons are a sign of things looking up. Coupled with loan waiver and our thrust on diversification, there is a lot of positivity visible. Transparency, resulting from the crackdown on various mafias, as well as e-governance initiatives, are notable successes. — Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister


FINANCE White Paper and red entries

What’s done

  • A White Paper on the economy, as promised, has been brought out.
  • Efforts are on to request the Government of India to re-examine the settlement of legacy food credit bill of Rs 31,000 crore that is eating away a major chunk of state finances.
  • Austerity in government/cost-cutting initiatives have been taken. Most offices housed in rented accommodation have been shifted to government buildings. Some departments have been merged to cut administrative costs.

What remains

  • The government is yet to get a grip on the state of finances. It has defaulted on paying salaries on time twice this year, in spite of 14 per cent increase in the state revenue since the GST rollout.
  • The White Paper revealed the “fiscal misdoings” of the previous Akali-BJP government, but no action for future has been suggested in the document.
  • The Centre seems unwilling to relook at the settlement of food credit account, which is giving ulcers to the state’s financial managers.
  • Unpaid bills, carried forward from the last fiscal, halt to disbursal of social security pensions, and delay in paying out grants to match the Centre’s contribution for several schemes have led to widespread resentment among people.

Sarkarspeak  

We inherited the economy in a very bad state. But we have taken steps to rectify the faults created by our predecessors. We have been able to cut losses in the food account by Rs 1,000 crore, from Rs 1,800 crore we were spending each year. The state’s revenues have also increased by Rs 1,100 crore. We ensured that the state finances did not avail the overdraft facility for very long, as was done during the previous government’s tenure. This helped us save several crores of rupees. Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister


SAND MINING As clock ticks, reputation slips

What’s done

  • Capt Amarinder Singh government should be credited for using simple economics — increasing the supply of minor minerals (sand and gravel) to bring down the cost of these basic construction materials. Even though the temptation of getting a finger in the sand-mining pie claimed the ministership of Rana Gurjit Singh and threatens to unsettle Charanjit Singh Channi too, the prices of sand and gravel have come down by almost Rs 3,000-5,000 per 900 cubic ft (one tipper).
  • Certain corrections in the mining policy were later introduced to ensure greater transparency in the bidding process. Changed from ‘reverse bidding’ to ‘progressive bidding’ for the auction of quarries, which helped the government increase its revenue from these auctions.
  • Capt Amarinder Singh, through repeated encouragement to officials to act against all, including his own partymen, has sought to send out the signal that he won’t come to the rescue of those hobnobbing with the sand mafia.

What remains

  • An Intelligence report is learnt to have informed the Chief Minister that 32 Congress MLAs have stakes in sand mining.
  • The biggest challenge before the government is to ensure that the ministers and all Congress MLAs stay away from the sand mining mafia. The public perception is strongly against the government. The names of at least 11 MLAs, including a sitting minister and a senior elected functionary in the government, are being mentioned in this context openly. 
  • The memory that it was public perception that hurt the previous government the most should be a cause of worry.

Sarkarspeak  

The crackdown is already yielding results and will continue till the mafia is wiped out. There will be no compromise. For the first time in over a decade, this message has percolated down the rank and file. I have also told the civil officials and the police in categorical terms that they have to go after the big fish too and not confine action to small fry. We have to ensure that the revenue generated from the mining business finds its way to the state exchequer instead of going into the pockets of the corrupt. Already, there is a marked increase in the revenue generation. For the period April 2017 to December 2018, the revenue from mining increased to Rs 117 crore from Rs 42 crore in FY 2016-17, and is expected to increase further by the end of the fiscal. — Capt Amarinder Singh, who holds the charge of mining department


AGRICULTURE Tale of drop in the ocean

What’s done

  • Small steps have been taken to ameliorate the suffering of indebted farmers through a crop-loan waiver scheme.
  • After three years, the state managed to ensure smooth procurement of both wheat and paddy. 
  • After several years, the State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane was raised by Rs 10 per quintal.
  • Action taken to ensure quality control on supply of pesticides, insecticides and seeds.

What remains

  • The crop-loan waiver scheme has drawn more flak than generate goodwill for the government. After several exclusions, only a small percentage of farmers will get a waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh on crop loans.
  • Farmer suicides have continued unabated, with some estimates saying over 400 indebted farmers have ended their life since the Congress government took over.
  • No concrete action plan presented as yet for either ameliorating the economic condition of farmers or towards diversification of crops grown in the state.

Sarkarspeak  

We have created the right environment which will pave the way for achieving our targets. Apart from the process of farm loan waiver, which we have started in the right earnest as an urgent measure to alleviate the woes of the farmers, we are also looking at long-term initiatives for the revival of the farming sector. We are moving aggressively towards crop diversification, which, coupled with our initiatives to streamline irrigation facilities, will go a long way towards making our farmers self-reliant. We are incentivising farmers to go for crop diversification through various measures, including 80 per cent subsidy on drip irrigation as well as subsidy on the use of solar power for agriculture. We’ve also provided Rs 3.19 crore from the rural development fund for cotton. — Capt Amarinder Singh, who holds the charge of agriculture


EDUCATION Lessons in staffing

What’s done

  • Despite opposition from anganwari workers, the department has gone ahead with its programme of pre-primary education in 13,000 government schools. The aim was to tap children before they joined private schools.
  • The department hopes to get services of at least 1,500 teachers under the Cabinet-approved rationalisation policy, without any distinction between various categories of teacher. School principals will also take 12 classes/month (15 for headmasters).
  • Strong efforts to check mass copying during annual examinations. Private schools have come under special scrutiny.
  • Special cadre of teachers created for border areas by offering them perks.

What remains

  • Students suffering due to irregular supply of mid-day meals, textbooks, uniforms, etc, besides non-release of funds for post-matric scholarships. Centre has released only Rs 286.26 crore out of its due share of Rs 683.46 crore till date under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
  • Computerisation in primary schools remains a distant dream, besides missing classrooms and furniture.
  • Offer to pay only a fixed amount of Rs 10,300 per month to teachers working at higher scales for the past several years as a condition for regularisation of service has generated a lot of bad blood.

Sarkarspeak  

Reforms don’t occur overnight, particularly when teacher organisations are holding ‘dharnas’ against our reforms. Anomalies in 19 service rules were addressed recently. Leaders complaining about shortage of teachers in villages are often the ones who come looking for easy transfers for kin. Our changes are aimed at better education for our children. It will take some time, but the initial results will start showing soon. — Aruna Chaudhary, Education Minister


ENVIRONMENT Solutions, all on paper

What’s done

  • $1 million “Paddy Straw Management Challenge Fund” announced for whoever finds a solution to the problem.
  • Increased monitoring of straw burning through satellites and field functionaries, plus awareness campaign.
  • Govt employees and panchayats ordered not to burn paddy straw in their fields.
  • Deal with Chennai-based firm to set up 400 plants to convert crop residue into bio-energy. Each plant to have capacity to process 50,000 tonnes/year.
  • Government re-notifies over 21,000 acres of eco-fragile land around Chandigarh under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) 1900. This includes 3,725 acre of Siswan village, where Capt Amarinder Singh has bought land.
  • Fencing of forest areas begins; 1,000-acre forestland freed from encroachments.
  • Hunting permits eased
  • Wood-based industrial park proposed.
  • A Rs 650-cr project, fully funded by the Centre, approved for providing machinery like Happy Seeder and bailing rigs to farmers for paddy straw management. Funds will be available in 2018-19.

What remains

  • State’s demand for a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy for farmers who do not burn straw not met yet.
  • Only 85 of 165 cities in Punjab have sewage treatment plants (STPs). Though constructed under the previous government, only a handful are working. Untreated sewage flows into drains and rivers.
  • Of 50 towns identified for discharging effluents into the Beas, Sutlej and Ghaggar rivers, only 28 have set up STPs. Monitoring is woefully inadequate.
  • Nothing substantial done on policy to increase forest cover. Though some action has been taken against illicit felling, forest mafia is yet to catch necessary attention of the government.

Sarkarspeak  

The government is going all out to check water, air and noise pollution, especially the issue of burning paddy straw. We undertook a mammoth exercise of regular monitoring of incidents of fire in the fields. — KS Pannu, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board


HEALTH On pills and prayers

What’s done

  • Punjab became first state to launch 240 ‘health and wellness centres’. Part of plan for 2,950 such centres.
  • Launched a mobile food-testing lab to check adulterated food. Also started online inspection and sampling system to expedite testing.
  • To eliminate TB by 2025, Punjab launched a free X-ray service to diagnose patients in all government hospitals.
  • Biometric attendance for staff in all government hospitals.

What remains

  • Work not started on promise of developing all primary health centres and community health centres as independent multi-specialty hospitals.
  • In its manifesto, the Congress promised five new medical colleges. However, even the foundation stone of medical college approved for Mohali by the previous government has not been laid. Three existing government medical colleges remain in pathetic condition.
  • No district hospital could get diagnostic equipment such as MRI, CT-Scan.
  • The Clinical Establishment Act, which aims to regulate the functioning of private hospitals, yet to be implemented. Draft gathering dust for five years.

Sarkarspeak  

In 10 years of SAD-BJP rule, they purchased the equipment, but didn’t think of hiring people to operate them; they built buildings for hospitals and de-addiction centres, but didn’t hire human resource for them. After one year, I am still trying to clear the mess I have inherited. Brahm Mohindra, Health Minister


DRUGS Over the high, far from clean

What’s done

  • In the very first Cabinet meeting on March 18 last year, a Special Task Force (STF) was constituted to “wipe out” the scourge of drugs from the state within four weeks.
  • Over the past year, the Punjab Police arrested 13,880 persons in 12,546 cases registered under the NDPS Act. Similarly, 1,473 persons were arrested by the STF in 939 cases registered under the NDPS Act.
  • Some initial arrests by STF exposed the nexus between police and drug dealers; it also led to the arrest of a few policemen.
  • Availability of drugs on ground has reduced, but completely wiping out drugs may be a goal too far.
  • To cover every village, the government introduced 26 ‘Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment’ centres in three districts — Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Moga. At these centres, around 3,000 patients have been treated.

What remains

  • The STF too seems to be succumbing to the internal politics of police, as it has become a parallel power centre.
  • Fast-track district courts were promised to decide NDPS cases within 30 days. Nothing has happened.
  • A promised review of around 45,000 cases registered mainly against drug users over the past decade has not been done.
  • The SAD-BJP government spent around Rs 100 crore on building drug de-addiction centres, but this government has done precious little to get addicts to these centres. On the other hand, private centres are overflowing.
  • As per a recent pan-Punjab study by the PGI, there are over 3 lakh people who were dependent on banned drugs in the state.
  • Allegations of drugs making their way into jails keep haunting the government.

Sarkarspeak  

The STF is coordinating implementation of the EDP (enforcement-deaddiction-prevention) model. District police and the STF have registered cases against 12,780 offenders under the NDPS Act between March 16, 2017, and February 28, 2018. Steps are also being taken to attach and confiscate the properties of drug smugglers. A proposal for preventive detention under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act is at an advanced stage with the government.

The Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) model to provide services to addicts to reduce consumption is being implemented by the Health Department. Prevention aspect is being approached with a long-term perspective by focusing on students. Alongside, the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme — to be launched later this month — focuses at the community level in localities. The aim is to ensure maximum results at the minimal cost to the state. — Harpreet Sidhu, head, special task force


INDUSTRY Struggling, block by block

What’s done

  • The government unveiled a new industrial policy in November 2017, wherein “thrust” sectors like high-tech manufacturing, technical textiles, and food processing were exempted from State GST. The Congress had promised the policy would come within 90 days of assuming office, but it took seven months.
  • A Rs 100-crore fund was created to promote a “start-up culture” to provide entrepreneurs with “world class” facilities.
  • MoU signed for setting up a start-up in the STPI’s incubation centre in Mohali, where the state has proposed to set up India’s largest govt-supported “Startup Hub”. 
  • One-time settlement policy introduced for the loanees of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation.
  • Electricity tariff for the existing and new industry was fixed at Rs 5 per unit (excluding other charges) from January 1, 2018.

What remains

  • The government launched the industrial policy in November 2017, but it is yet to introduce the operational guidelines for the policy.
  • Attracting actual big-ticket investment remains a challenge, even as the CM has signed MoUs with various industry houses.
  • Start-ups in the state are yet to get funding, as announced by the Chief Minister under the Start-up Policy.
  • Lower power tariff has been provided only to industry, keeping out the services sector (IT/ITES/BPO). Even for industry the cost becomes Rs 6.5 to Rs 6.7 per unit after levy of charges and duties, not Rs 5 as promised.
  • Plug-in system for start-ups is yet to see the light of day.
  • Freight equalisation incentives yet to be introduced. It is required as Punjab is very far from the major ports from where raw material comes, which makes it uncompetitive. Finished goods also have to be sent out over great distances.

Sarkarspeak  

On being asked by an IT industry representative about the electricity tariff parity for them with the manufacturing sector, Capt Amarinder Singh promised to examine the matter. He was addressing industry members at TieCon 2018. The operational guidelines of the Industry Policy-2017 are just a provisional formality, and will be placed before the next Cabinet meeting for approval. — DPS Kharbanda, Director, Industry & Commerce


TRANSPORT Old driver, new wheels

What’s done

  • Controversial and allegedly pro-Akali State Transport Commissioner Harmel Singh, whose writ ran unquestioned for years, removed.
  • The new Transport Policy promised in the manifesto was notified just a few days before the completion of one year of the government.

What remains

  • No end to a flood of litigation on the route permits, bus time-table issues, extension of route permits, favouritism to a few transporters.
  • Incumbent STC gave directions based on High Court orders regarding the transport business, but went beyond the court directions, resulting in fresh litigation and stay on new initiatives. Even the new Transport Policy is awaiting court clearance.
  • Monopoly of the Badal family on the bus transport sector has not only continued but gained strength. They are buying more buses and route permits.
  • Share of the government buses — of PRTC and Punjab Roadways — has gone down in new Transport Policy — from 75 to 50 per cent on national-highway routes and 60 to 40 per cent on state highways/district roads.
  • Bus time-tables made by previous govt to allegedly favour Badal family buses remain unchanged. 
  • Service to people remains poor. There is no control on speeding or illegal halts. Public-sector transport has failed to increase luxury AC buses. Bus terminals continue to be unclean.

Sarkarspeak  

The transport sector has been overhauled by the government, with a crackdown on the mafia. As a result, there has been a 23% jump in the department’s earnings. PRTC, Punjab Roadways and PUNBUS revenues have also increased substantially. New policy will not allow more than 25% permits to one transporter on any route. This will open up new avenues for youth. Orders have also been placed for 500 new ordinary and 40 luxury buses. Capt Amarinder Singh, handles transport dept


POLICING All is well, till it goes wrong

What’s done

  • Police busted a gang of alleged Khalistan sympathisers suspected to have carried out targeted killings in recent years.
  • Notorious gangsters arrested, with the top one, Vicky Gounder, and his aides gunned down in an encounter.
  • Almost all fugitives and conspirators in the Nabha jailbreak case arrested. Crucial conspirator Romi arrested in Hong Kong; his extradition is under way.
  • No major sacrilege case reported in past year.
  • No Dera Sacha Sauda-related violence during tension over arrest of the dera chief.
  • Police officials claim there has been minimal political interference in postings and investigation.

What remains

  • Department is stable, but new groups have emerged who aim for control over the DGP post and proximity to the CM.
  • Promised recruitment at lower ranks has not been started.
  • Promised weekly off to personnel not implemented, barring in Ludhiana.
  • No major impetus for modernisation of the force.
  • Snatchings continue unabated with no special drive against the crime, affecting common citizens.
  • Allegations of Akali leaders continuing to wield influence over police in certain areas.
  • Inquiries brushed under the carpet due to political interference, especially in drug- related cases.

Sarkarspeak  

The improvement in law and order is manifest in the growing sense of security among people. With significant decline in heinous crimes, elimination of dreaded gangsters, and solving of targeted killings, there has been restoration of public confidence. — Capt Amarinder Singh, incharge, Home


CITYSCAPE Huge pile to clear

What’s done

  • Forensic audit currently under way by global consultant Grant Thorton of the infrastructure works carried out by the Urban Local Bodies Department of the state.
  • Bylaws for the Punjab New Advertisement Policy approved by the Cabinet; public suggestions have been sought. It aims to raise Rs 200 crore, against the current collection of just Rs 20 crore.
  • The department handed out appointment letters to 118 candidates last week. Around 500 people are to be appointed in total.
  • At least 75 urban bodies, out of total 165, have been declared ODF (Open Defecation Free) till February 28.
  • Provision made for reserving at least 50 per cent seats for women in local bodies.
  • Bus Rapid Transit System in Amritsar “to be operational by April”.

What remains

  • Stray cattle menace growing.
  • Parking a major problem in urban landscape.
  • As many as 66 fire tenders purchased, and 27 more are on the way, but no space to park or staff to operate them.
  • Ludhiana RDF (refuse-derived fuel) plant has become functional; by April 30, the Waste to Energy Plant at Nakodar is expected. However, after poor results of waste management in Amritsar, Pathankot, Patiala, Jalandhar and Bathinda, the government is attempting decentralisatioin with pilot projects at Nawanshahr, Moonak, Bhadson and Cheema.

Sarkarspeak  

Mehakme vich kayeean de muh khoon laggia hoya hai. Assin oh band karna hai (Many in the department have tasted blood. We have to undo that). The signing of MoU with e-Governance Foundation (e-Gov) of Nandan Nilekani will allow us to provide 67 services online. Getting building plans online will a big change. We have already received Rs 700 crore for setting up a Directorate of Fire Services. Work is being carried out with a vision for the future, not just immediate requirements. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister for Local Government


SOCIAL WELFARE Words of comfort

What’s done

  • On July 1, 2017, the government increased social security pension for over 16 lakh beneficiaries (old-age, widows, dependent children, differently abled) from Rs 500 to Rs 750/month.
  • Amount under Aashirwad Scheme (earlier known as Shagun) raised from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000.
  • Increase in gross annual income limit for “creamy layer” of Other Backward Classes/Backward Classes from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh approved.
  • Quota for OBCs in educational institutions increased from 5% to 10%.
  • CM has ordered clearing of backlog of government vacancies for the handicapped.
  • To provide housing for poor, reservation for Scheduled Castes was increased from 15% to 30% in all schemes pertaining to allotment of plots/houses.

What remains

  • Despite increase in social security pension to Rs 750, it remains much lower than neighbouring Haryana, which gives Rs 1,800. The poll promise was Rs 1,500.
  • Reservation in government jobs for OBCs yet to be increased from 12% to 15%.
  • Promise of raising amount under Aashirwad scheme to Rs 51,000 has not even reached the halfway mark.
  • Job in every SC and OBC household still awaited.
  • Reservation not made for SCs in contractual jobs and for various posts in trusts, boards and corporations

Sarkarspeak  

When I took over the Welfare Department, it was lying defunct and was a den of corruption. We have not only acted against corrupt officials but also tried to develop a transparent system, which caused delays in disbursement of SC scholarships. We have increased ‘shagun’ to Rs 21,000, which will go up to Rs 51,000. — Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Welfare Minister

Inputs: Ruchika M Khanna, Sanjeev Singh Bariana, Jupinderjit Singh, Rajmeet Singh, Vishav Bharti and Vijay C Roy

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