Operation Sadbhavana:Whose responsibility is it anyway?

Public facilities created by Army in state of neglect  
Ashutosh Sharma 
Tribune News Service
Jammu, July 26


The facilities and infrastructure developed by the Army in militancy-hit areas under Operation Sadbhavana have failed to serve the purpose, as these seem to be nobody’s responsibility.



While the facilities like health centres and vocational training centres are in a state of utter neglect, the Army claims that the public utilities are normally developed under its goodwill mission on the demand of local people. Thereafter, it says, the civil administration is responsible for the management and maintenance of these facilities.


On the contrary, the civil administration cites limited resources and manpower and blames the Army for working in an unplanned way without taking it into confidence. Consequently, the lack of cooperation and coordination between the two has resulted in a huge waste of public money.


For instance, the Public Health Centre at Khardi Karmarda in Poonch, which was set up in 2005 by the Army, is barely 2 km from a well-furbished government health centre in an adjoining village.


Villagers say the health centre could not remain functional beyond three to four months after its inauguration as the staff provided by the government’s Health Department stopped visiting it.


“When the Army procured land from me for the health centre, I was promised that one member of my family would be provided a job there. But the promise was not fulfilled,” said Sher Khan. He added that, “After the staff deputed at the health centre stopped coming here, I took back the possession of my land.”


Sher Khan lives near the health centre’s building and has been using it for storing fodder and agricultural implements.
Locals say there are many other health centres constructed by the Army in the area which are also in a state of neglect. There are computer centres and vocational training centres, which are non-functional. There are complaints that equipment have been stolen from many centres. Also, the micro hydroelectric projects set up by the Army on traditional watermills are lying defunct.


“We are just facilitators. It is the responsibility of the civil administration to take care of public facilities and infrastructure after the Army builds them,” said a senior Army officer, wishing not to be quoted.


“It is not practically possible for the Army to sustain the infrastructure and public facilities developed under Operation Sadbhavana as the Army cannot take over the functions of the civil administration. It can only help the civil administration in the problem areas,” he added.


Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Ajit Kumar Sahu said, “To construct a building is quite easy, but sustaining it for catering to public demands is a different thing. The second part involves funds, manpower and many other issues. Whenever the Army builds a building or other public facility, it does not take the district administration into confidence.”


“The Army approaches local people or village heads before creating such facilities, but it never approaches us for a no objection certificate. It carries out the entire exercise in a very unplanned manner,” he added.