RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY INTRODUCES INTIATIVES TO MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHEMES

    Under the new initiative, duties and responsibilities of Area Officers have been streamlined. 36 such officers will visit different blocks and districts all over the country during the week and next week. For greater operational efficiency it has been decided that not more than two officers will visit any particular block/district to be decided by the Secretary Rural Development.

    The Area Officer will be visiting the Blocks, DRDA’s and State Headquarters to help expedite submission of proposals by them. The Visiting Officers will be doing a critical assessment of the implementation of Rural Development programmes and various studies done by the ministry and other agencies assigned by the ministry, and bring to light any lacunae and suggest steps for their removal. The stress will be on covering the backward blocks and areas affected by natural calamities. They will also be finding out the status of implementation of the Four Point Programme of the Ministry (spreading awareness of the development schemes, transparency, people’s participation through Panchayats, and ensuring accountability by Social Auditing) from the DRDAs and Gram Sabhas. The Area Officers will also evaluate the reach and the impact of the publicity programmes meant for Rural Development Schemes. They will be reporting to the minister quarterly.

    The Ministry has also issued reminders to the State Governments to send the statement of their expenditure from the funds released for Rural Development schemes, failing which the next installment to the States will be stalled.