Entire process to be completed by ending November
Action on shortcomings pointed out last year to be evaluated
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 7: Union Government has deputed National Level Monitors (NLMs) to Jammu and Kashmir to assess implementation of 10 major rural development sector schemes and identify the problems in achieving their objectives. The entire exercise will be completed by ending November and thereafter a fresh advisory will be issued to the State to ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation process.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Seema Gaur, Chief Economic Advisor in the Union Ministry of Rural Development has conveyed to the Secretary, Department of Rural Development J&K Sheetal Nanda that Ministry is going to conduct monitoring of its schemes as well as programmes of Ministry of Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir.
These schemes and programmes are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Digital India Land Record Management Programme (DILRMP), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) besides basic verification of Panchayats.
The National Level Monitors have been directed to undertake field visits in various districts and all the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to hold interactions with them and ensure that requisite information regarding implementation of the programmes in the districts is provided to the NLMs, sources said.
Disclosing that entire exercise will be completed by November ending, they said, “the purpose of deputing NLMs is to ensure effectiveness, transparency and accountability in the implementation of the programmes”, adding “the findings of the NLMs will be reviewed at the level of the Ministry and then shared with the State Government for improvement in the implementation process at the grass root level”.
They informed that NLMs will analyze the situation vis-à-vis implementation of these 10 Centrally Sponsored Schemes, determine proper utilization of the inputs in the programme, identify problems facing the people and find solutions, ensure that all activities are carried out properly by the right people and in time and determine the appropriateness of programmes planning for achieving their objectives.
According to the sources, during their visit to the State during 2017-18 financial year, the National Level Monitors of the Union Ministry of Rural Development had pointed out several shortcomings in the implementation of these 10 Centrally Sponsored Schemes and during current visit they will analyze whether the State has initiated required steps to make improvement in the implementation process.
As far as MGNREGA is concerned, the NLMs had last year noticed delay in payment of wages in several districts of the State particularly Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch, no convergence in MGNREGA works in many Gram Panchayats of Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts and inordinate delay in verification of job cards in many districts.
About PMAY-G, the NLMs had submitted in their findings that landless households were not provided land in Kupwara district and there was no convergence of other schemes with PMAY-G in Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri and Samba districts and delay in providing total assistance amount to those beneficiaries who had completed their houses.
As far as NSAP is concerned, the NLMs had pointed out non-coverage of large number of eligible persons under Old Age Pension Scheme in Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts, delay in disbursement of pension in Jammu, Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch districts and low level of awareness amongst villagers in Baramulla and Rajouri districts.
About PMGSY, the NLMs had reported that roads in Jammu and Samba districts were not having adequate chamber, proper drainage and shoulders and there was poor riding comfort on the PMGSY roads in majority of the districts.
“Based on the findings of the NLMs during their visit this year the Union Rural Development Ministry will assess whether State has taken corrective measures on the reports of last year and accordingly detailed advisory will be issued to the State”, sources said.
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