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in West Bengal and Assam. Pending the completion of these schemes, air-strips have been constructed in suitable places in Tripura so that essential commodities may be flown to that area. In Kutch also steps have been taken to improve the road communications.
Progress made in the Unions of States
174. So far as the Unions are concerned, the task of creating an entirely new administrative structure has been one of immense difficulty. To assist the Union Governments in their work, the Government of India have made available to them the services of experienced advisers and have also deputed senior officers of all-India services to fill certain key posts such as those of Chief and Finance Secretaries and Inspector-General of Police. The Government of India are keeping a watchful eye on the progress of integration and have been extending all possible assistance to the Union Governments.
Judiciary.—Steps have been taken in all Unions to reorganise the entire Judicial machinery. High Courts on the lines of Provincial High Courts have been constituted in all the Unions.
Legislative activities.—Codification of laws and their approximation to the Provincial legislation has made considerable progress in the Unions. Ordinances have been issued or Acts promulgated, constituting High Courts, Public Service Commissions and Boards of Revenues, and dealing with abolition of internal customs duties, safety and security measures, prevention of corruption and bribery, etc. In some of the Unions Central and Provincial enactments have been adopted with the necessary adaptations.
Secretariat Organisation.—In most cases, the Union Governments started with a nucleus Secretariat, staffed by men drawn from the Secretariats of the integrating States. The task of the setting up of proper Secretariats has now been completed in all Unions.
Integration of Services.—The pay, qualifications, experience, etc., of the staff of the Covenanting States differed widely and it was a difficult task to organise cadres of different services with uniform scales of pay. Committees consisting of senior officers were appointed to carry out a preliminary selection of officers to staff the Secretariat and the Districts. In Patiala and East Punjab States Union and Madhya Bharat, Administrative Services, on the lines of Provincial Civil Services, have been constituted.
