Polls derail job guarantee plan

There were also other problems like some BDOs not getting enough job application forms in districts like Purulia, despite asking for the same time and again from the district headquarters.

Incidentally, the scheme is being implemented in 10 districts of the State. Works like the preparation of the scheme, compilation of the necessary data in the panchayat and rural development department have been hit because of the summary revision.

Meanwhile, even the so-called backward States like Orissa and Bihar have the relevant details — such as the number of people who applied for employment and the works sanctioned under the scheme — on their websites. The state of affairs in Purulia, one of the most backward districts in Bengal, gives a clear picture of the progress of the scheme in the State.

The district has 3 lakh households eligible for the scheme. Though 600 schemes have been approved, just a measly six of them have begun. The BDOs of the 20 blocks of the district are yet to send data about the number of applicants so far.

‘‘We are yet to get the data about the applicants from the BDOs. We expect to get them by the end of next week,’’ said M K Sarkar, district magistrate, Purulia.

Despite the initial problems like shortage of forms, Sarkar claimed that the scheme was on track.

However, officials at the panchayat and rural development department admitted that work on the scheme has been affected by the electoral roll revision and other poll-related function.

‘‘The BDOs are vital links in the implementation of the scheme. But they, along with other officials, are busy with election-related work. In the process, the implementation of the scheme has been jeopardised,’’ said a senior official at the panchayat and rural development department.

But M N Roy, principal secretary, panchayat and rural development department, differs. ‘‘No doubt the officials have the duty of electoral roll revisions and related works. But that did not affect the implementation of the scheme,’’ he insisted.