Field visits by ministers must to curb misdemeanours
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 14, 2022 -

RURAL Development and Panchayati Raj minister Yumnam Khemchand has been demonstrating that regular field visits to remote corners could help in establishing better relationship between the government and the villagers and more importantly in detecting misuse of public fund such as the near complete withdrawal of work bill earmarked for different components of the 15-km long PMCSY project from Rengpang to Mongjaron Khullen village under Nungba block of Noney district.

Had the minister opted to stay put within the comfort of his office chamber and issued directive to the department officials for execution of the state and centrally-sponsored projects, then it is obvious that the case of withdrawal of fund without actually executing the work would have gone undetected.

The Nungba Block case has also rung out the message that setting up of anti-corruption cells and launching of government platforms and portals to enable the concerned citizens register complaints on governmental lapses, if any, wouldn't be of much help, especially if the project sites are in remote hill areas, where execution of projects must have the consent of the village authorities or the blessing of so-called leaders of certain organisations.

With neither the village authorities nor the said organisations likely to raise objections even if the projects are poorly implemented or not executed at all in case the contractor or work agencies are affable to them, it is hard to comprehend that the innocent villagers would dare to expose any wrongdoing. As such, Manipur needs more ministers like Khemchand to ensure that funds for infrastructure development projects aren't embezzled.

Though the RD & PR minister seems to have acted leniently by instructing the work agencies and engineering officials to commence the project immediately in-spite of personally confirming on October 8 that no works were executed even after withdrawal of Rs 6 crore out of the Rs 7 crore project, it is evident that Yumnam Khemchand has firm resolve to ensure that neither the department officials nor the contractors and sub-contractors take undue advantage of the sanctioned projects.

As had been reported, the minister along with additional chief secretary MH Khan, rural engineering department chief engineer Pantising Thaimei, additional chief engineer Kh Rajen and other officials went to Noney district on a two-day inspection visit during which he found non-execution of the road project in question.

While it is hard to imagine how the contractor could start or complete the task left unattended since 2019 within the two weeks' deadline set by Khemchand, the minister's field visits will hopefully inspire his ministerial colleagues to carry out similar surprise inspection trips to oversee functioning of offices and implementation of public utility projects.

Though fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 6 crore for the 15-km long PMGSY road sanctioned in 2019 under PMGSY Phase-2 doesn't seem to be a huge amount, it must be remembered that a state like Manipur has been perennially depending on the mercy and patronage of the Union government for implementing every single development project.

Having set an example, the public would be looking forward to more ministers like Khemchand to ensure strict compliance with prescribed norms for ensuring work quality as well as penalise those responsible for causing embarrassment to the government owing to lackadaisical execution of projects.