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DABs will start functioning by next month

ISLAMABAD: Voluntary District Advisory Boards (DABs) are likely to start functioning by the end of next month to implement poverty alleviation programme.

The federal government has already allocated Rs 10 billion for the programme, to be undertaken in 106 districts of the country.

The constitution of the boards is in process at the provincial level which would likely to complete by the end of this month, official sources said here on Tuesday.

The members of the boards will be authorised to identify the projets and to ensure their proper implementation.

Each board will comprise 10 to 20 members with the purpose to identify and prioritize the development schemes in their respective districts. They would also act as a bridge between administration and the people for the implementation of poverty alleviation programme.

Each board would have one chairperson and one co-chairperson.

The respective Deputy Commissioner will act as chairperson while the co-chairperson would be elected from amongst the non-official representatives.

The Provincial governments have been directed that each board should have one-third women participation.

The heads of different public service departments in a particular District would also be ex-officio members of the Board.

According to the sources, those nominated for the Boards will not be disqualified from contesting the local council elections, scheduled to be held by the end of this year. However, the members will have to resign from their seats prior to the elections, if they wish to contest.

It is being ensured that the members of the boards must be man on integrity, enjoying good reputation of public service.

It was also decided that different groups and associations of citizens including deprived and vulnerable groups be given balanced representation so that the poor have an effective voice in the District Advisory Boards. Wherever possible, representation will also be given to minorities.

The non-official members will also be imparted training. The training will be conducted by the National Centre for Rural Development, Islamabad and Municipal Training and Research Institute, Karachi.

About development projects, initiated by the previous government, the sources said, 'go-ahead signal' has already been given for carrying out development schemes, costing less than one million rupees, where more than 25 percent work has been completed.

Necessary instructions have already been issued to all Deputy Commissioners, heads of executing agencies, in compliance with Cabinet decisions, to complete 953 on-going such schemes, amounting to Rs 577 million throughout the country.

The schemes were undertaken by the previous government under 'Tameer-Watan Programme', by allocating Rs 3 billion for each financial year.

The present government has now decided to carry on these schemes under its Poverty Elimination Programme.

It was also decided that schemes, costing more than Rs one million and those where less than 25 percent of the allocated amount has been spent, will be reviewed by the Ministry of Local Government, or the District Advisory Boards.

The review exercise will be completed by January 15, 2000, with the assistance of monitoring teams.

There are about 1,500 schemes which were to be undertaken with budgetary allocation of Rs 739 million. These schemes, the sources added, will also be reviewed, and if these are found feasible for the public interest, would also be undertaken as early as possible.

Out of 953 development schemes costing Rs 577 million, 687 schemes have already been completed, with an amont of Rs 335 million.ÑAPP