Patna, Jan. 22: In a major development that has virtually redefined the role of bureaucracy at the district level, the Bihar government has divested the district magistrates of their authority to sign cheques for drawing funds.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar communicated this decision to the district magistrates on the concluding day of their two-day conference while apprising them of the “changing role†in the wake of the increasing work in the districts.
Officially, the measure was described as a part of the government’s efforts to “lessen the load on district magistrates who were overburdened with workâ€. “It is getting difficult for a district magistrate to do justice with a plethora of work he has at his table. The district magistrates have been relieved of their responsibility to sign cheques so that they can concentrate on monitoring the execution of the work related to infrastructure, development and law and order,†cabinet secretary Afzal Amanullah said.
Explaining the reason behind the government decision, Amanullah said: “Curbing corruption and ensuring better governance are the top priorities of the present government. Now that the district magistrates have been relieved of their responsibility to sign innumerable cheques, they will surely find more time to concentrate on the government’s priority areas.â€
The move is believed to have redefined the role of the bureaucracy for the district magistrates are supposed to be the executive and financial heads of all departments, including health, education, infrastructure and law and order, in their respective districts.
The district magistrates were not ready to comment on the government’s directives but sources revealed that they were not very happy with the order. A section of bureaucrats feels it’s an “infringement†on their power rather than “more freedom†to work for the districts. The government has already barred them from hoisting the national flag in their respective district headquarters on Republic Day and Independence Day.
Sources said that the government is in the process of putting in place a mechanism to assign the cheque signing work to the respective departmental heads in the districts. “The process will make more people accountable rather than confining the financial power to a district magistrate,†a senior official said.
Amanullah said: “The chief minister has asked the district magistrates to concentrate more on three areas — curb corruption, maintain law and order and acquire land for setting up power plants and other infrastructure development projects. Besides, they have to maintain communal and social harmony at all cost the way they did in the first five years of the NDA government.â€
Talking about the changing role of the district magistrates, Amanullah said: “They are supposed to concentrate more on census, unique identity cards and panchayat elections which will eventually add value to the living condition of the people.â€
Nitish Kumar, according to Amanullah, directed the district magistrates to make plans to deal with drought and flood situation that the state has to face year after year.
“If there is advance planning, people will not suffer from shortage of drinking water, food and other relief materials at the time of scarcity,†the chief minister said.