Govt ‘struggles’ to show achievements on first anniversary

The state government appears to be struggling to showcase its achievements on the completion of one year in office on December 13. The government had sought a progress report from all the departments, but a majority of the departments have mentioned monitoring process and enlisted routine works in the report.

Now, the government is banking on its pet Bhamashah scheme, skill development project, energy sector, and recently-signed memoranda of understanding in industrial and health sectors, as the departmental reports, compiled as a document ‘Saflta ka ek varsh, vikas ka daur suraaj ki or’ (One year of success, round of development towards good governance), have just listed routine functioning of the departments. Education department and departments related to welfare schemes have nothing to claim as achievement in their reports.

According to official sources, late cabinet expansion led to slack monitoring of a majority of the departments. Besides, the government got “very less” time due to imposition of model code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls, assembly by-polls and then local body polls.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who was holding 47 portfolios since December 13 last year, expanded her cabinet on October 27 by including 15 legislators. “The department heads faced it tough to enlist their achievements, as there was nothing new to list. A majority of the departments have listed works which are carried in routine and have no significance for anniversary celebrations,” said an officer privy to the celebration preparations, who does not want to be named. The officer said some MoUs have been signed, but all the projects are in pipeline and they would take time to bear fruit.

On December 13, apart from a function at Janpath, the government would showcase its achievements in an exhibition, to be held for a few days at Ram Lila Ground near New Gate.

On the skill development front, the government is likely to announce 27 centres across the state on December 13. “Not many new announcements are expected on December 13, as the government has to announce something in the approaching budget also,” said an officer.

The state cabinet would meet on Tuesday to discuss the preparations to be carried out on December 13. The achievement document would also be scrutinised in the meeting, said an officer.