EXPLAINER: Why Cong MP is miffed about joint grievance redressal, DISHA meets

On September 25, Ambala Congress MP Varun Chaudhary had complained to Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, against the Haryana government’s decision to hold joint meetings of the District Grievance Redressal Committee and the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA).

The Commissioner and Secretary to the Haryana Government, Development and Panchayats Department, vide its memo dated July 3, had instructed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) for holding DISHA and grievance meetings the same day and each of these “shall be attended both” by the state minister (Chairperson of District Grievance Redressal Committee), as well as the MP concerned (Chairperson of District-Level DISHA committee). It had added that the DCs “shall personally invite both chairpersons of respective committees and the MLAs’ concerned for these meetings.

Chaudhary alleged that the recent diktat from the Haryana Government not only undermined the “federal system” but was also impractical, as both the state minister and the MP might not be available on the same day.

What is DISHA and its mandate?

The District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) monitors as many as 101 central schemes of 37 departments. It includes the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), PM-KISAN, AMRUT 2.0, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

The local Lok Sabha MP chairs it. Where more than one MP is representing the district, the senior-most is nominated as the Chairperson.

All Members of the State Legislative Assembly elected from the district are among the members.

What is the mandate of the District Grievance Redressal Committee meeting?

District Grievance Redressal Committees address the grievances of residents within their respective districts. It is mandated to be held every month. The objective for setting up these committees was the “expeditious disposal of complaints” received at “public offices” and “making the district administration

more responsible.”

The CM and state ministers are allocated districts where they preside over these meetings, while MPs, MLAs, and mayors/chairmen of local bodies are ex-officio members. The members of the ruling BJP are also nominated as members of these committees.

What are the objections of the Congress MP?

Ambala MP Varun Chaudhary has stated in his complaint to Chouhan that the July 3 instructions issued by the Haryana Government are “totally against the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.” He pointed out that the state minister who was elected as the MLA “from outside the district concerned, along with other members of the grievance committee, would attend and chair the DISHA committee meeting.” He added that, as per the new instructions issued, the DCs would set the meeting schedule, and “there is no provision for seeking confirmation from the chairperson (MP) of the DISHA Committee.”

He highlighted that “there is no connection between the agendas of the grievances committee and DISHA committee.”

Pointing out a fundamental difference, he said that the “state minister has executive powers for the state subjects, whereas the DISHA Committee is to follow up on the timely execution of approved projects” of the Centre.

 Why is Congress alleging that holding meetings together is meant to undermine the Opposition?

According to MP Varun Chaudhary, when a state minister sits along with an Opposition MP, it will be evident that the district administration will listen to the minister. He adds that such instructions for joint meetings of both the grievance committee and DISHA committee are issued only in Haryana because 50 per cent of MPs are from the Opposition. The attempt is to undermine the Opposition, he alleges.

He further adds, “The instructions issued by the Government of Haryana are against the federal system established by the Constitution of India. It is also impractical for a Minister and an MP to be available on the same day, and the DISHA meeting already lasts for six to eight hours. The instructions issued by the state government will lead to non-functioning of the DISHA committee, and the objective of improvement in infrastructure, human development, and well-being of the people will be impaired.”