The Ministry of Rural
Development has developed a comprehensive system of monitoring
and evaluation of its programmes in order to ensure that allocation
made for rural development programmes are properly utilised and
the poor beneficiaries receive the benefits intended for them
in full measure. The Ministry has accordingly nominated the Members
of Lok Sabha as the Chairman/Vice Chairman of the District Level
Vigilance and Monitoring (V&M) Committees in their respective
constituencies. This was disclosed by Shri Annasaheb M.K.Patil,
Minister of State for Rural Development at the Parliamentary Consultative
Committee Meeting attached to his ministry here today. Shri Patil
further highlighted that Members of Rajya Sabha are also nominated
to the State Level V&M Committees. The major objective of
the V&M Committees is to put in place a mechanism to control
the execution of the Schemes with a view to ensure that public
funds are put to optimal use. The V&M Committees also fulfils
the objectives of ensuring quality expenditure, particularly in
the context of large public funds being spent under all the programmes
of the Ministry. These Committees would keep a close watch over
the implementation of the programme as per the prescribed procedures
and guidelines. Shri Patil informed that the reconstituted V&M
Committees at the State and the District levels will replace all
other Committees including Block Level Committees set up with
similar objectives/functions under various programmes of the Ministry
of Rural Development. Shri Subhash Maharia, Minister of State
for Rural Development was also present there.
Members of Parliament
lauded the effort made by Ministry of Rural Development for nominating
them Chairman/Vice Chairman of the district level V&M Committees
and nominating them as member of the state level V&M Committee.
Participating in the deliberations the Members suggested that
role of MPs has to be included in the Survey of Below Poverty
Line (BPL) and to provide proper space in each DRDA office for
smooth functioning of monitoring committees. Members also raised
the problem that in some states, district administration is not
holding meetings of the newly constituted V&M Committees.
Shri Patil assured
the Members that this issue would be taken up with the State governments
immediately.
Referring to the
agenda Shri Patil said that indicators for monitoring and evaluation
must form an integral part of programme/project design. Criteria
for identification of BPL households would be taken up on agenda.
He further highlighted that the Ministry has been acting as a
catalyst effecting the change in the rural areas through the implementation
of a wide spectrum of programmes which are aimed at poverty alleviation,
employment generation, infrastructure development and social security.
This V&M Committee will look into complaints and irregularities
received by them in respect of the implementation of the programmes
including complaints of wrong selection of beneficiaries, diversion
of funds of various schemes of the Ministry. The recommendation
of V&M Committee will be helpful in fine tuning the guidelines
to make the programmes more effective and result-oriented in the
field.
Members of Parliament
who participated in the deliberations are Shri Chinmayanand Swami,
Shri P.S.Gadhavi, Shri Chintaman Wanage, Shri Adhi Sankar, Shri
T.M.Selvaganpathi, Shri Raghuraj Singh Shakya, Shri Bheru Lal
Meena, Shri Bhal Chandra Yadav, Smt. Kumudini Patnaik, Shri E.Ponnuswamy,
Shri Dalit Ezhimalai, Shri Sunder Lal Patwa, Dr. Baliram, Shri
S.D.Mandlik, Shri P.R.Kyndiah, Shri V. Venkateshwar Rao, Shri
M.D.Mistry, Shri R.M.Singh, Shri Saif-ud-din Soz, Shri Tej Veer
Singh, Smt. Gokula Indra and Shri A.F.Golan Osmani.
