The amount released by the Government of India for new projects is decreasing year by year. In the December quarter, projects worth ₹6 lakh crore were announced, while in the previous quarter it was ₹7.2 lakh crore, and in December 2023, this number was ₹7.7 lakh crore.
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Isn't this a matter of concern amidst the ongoing super wave of record development in the country?
During the Rajya Sabha proceedings, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj SP Singh Baghel, while responding to a question raised by AAP MP Raghav Chadha, claimed that Punjab has performed the worst among 18 states in distributing funds to Panchayats and has fallen even below the national average on multiple parameters. Baghel also clarified that the Centre only transfers funds to states, while the responsibility of releasing those funds to Panchayati Raj institutions lies with the state governments. With Punjab now being placed at the bottom of the performance ranking, the claim has triggered political debate about governance, accountability and the functioning of grassroots institutions in the state. Does this assessment highlight serious administrative shortcomings in how Punjab distributes funds to local bodies, or is it likely to become another political flashpoint between the Centre and the state government ?
राज्यसभा की कार्यवाही के दौरान पंचायती राज राज्य मंत्री एस.पी. सिंह बघेल ने ‘आप’ सांसद राघव चड्ढा के सवाल का जवाब देते हुए दावा किया कि पंचायतों को फंड वितरित करने के मामले में पंजाब 18 राज्यों में सबसे खराब प्रदर्शन करने वाला राज्य रहा है और कई मानकों पर राष्ट्रीय औसत से भी नीचे चला गया है। बघेल ने यह भी स्पष्ट किया कि केंद्र केवल राज्यों को फंड ट्रांसफर करता है, जबकि पंचायत राज संस्थाओं तक फंड जारी करने की जिम्मेदारी राज्य सरकारों की होती है। पंजाब के इस प्रदर्शन को लेकर अब शासन, जवाबदेही और जमीनी स्तर की संस्थाओं के कामकाज पर राजनीतिक बहस तेज हो गई है। क्या यह आकलन पंजाब में स्थानीय निकायों को फंड वितरण में गंभीर प्रशासनिक कमियों की ओर इशारा करता है, या फिर यह केंद्र और राज्य सरकार के बीच एक और राजनीतिक टकराव का मुद्दा बन सकता है ?
Delhi’s much-publicised Tulip Festival, promoted by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta as a chance for Delhiites to enjoy “Kashmir-like tulips” in the capital, reportedly wilted within days after over 5 Lakhs tulip bulbs worth nearly ₹2 Crores were imported from the Netherlands. By the time many residents arrived for the much-advertised selfies, large stretches of Shanti Path were already left with dried stems and empty flower beds.
