Uttar Pradesh: After netas, bureaucrats told to mentor districts

LUCKNOW: In another move to ensure proper implementation of government schemes in the state, the government has decided to allot each district to a senior bureaucrat for looking after them.
Senior IAS officers, other than DMs and divisional commissioners, would now take care of government’s priority projects in every district.
According to a government order issued by officiating UP chief secretary, R K Tewari on September 19, senior IAS officers would be appointed as ‘nodal officer’ in each district. They will have to visit the district in the second week of every month and would spend at least two days in it and undertake surprise inspections.
The move comes after ruling BJP assigned each district to its ministers and senior party functionaries.
The officers would make surprise inspection of collectorate, police stations, tehsil office and hospitals and interact with locals.
They will have to check that district officers are working as per government priorities and those found lax would be punished. The officers would also inspect at least one village, meet locals and verify status of government schemes. They will also have to meet local MP and MLAs and take their feedback.
The bureaucrats will also inspect government schools to assess quality of education, besides visiting one municipal ward, crematorium and a cow shelter.
On second day, the officers would hold review meetings at district headquarters to ensure the schemes of their department are implemented properly.
The bureaucrats would subsequently be required to present a report card to the minister in-charge of the district. Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath had given all cabinet and state ministers responsibility of districts to ensure development scheme benefits are reaching people.