It hardly needs any emphasis as to what critical role is played by effective monitoring of projects and getting to know developments, shortcomings, weaknesses, difficulties etc and devising a foolproof mechanism to ensure a smooth sail of works undertaken . Excelsior has, from time to time, been voicing concern about the monitoring and follow up parts of most of the projects not being given the requisite importance and to not asking and having access to periodic reports oninspection, audits and themaintenance of levels of standard of working in congruence to the Detailed Project Report and other technical requirements, by the concerned Government departments. However, the UTGovernment,having recentlydevised a detailed mechanism for regular monitoring of key projects is a major development and hence a welcome step . The Chief Secretary , accordingly, has directed all the Deputy Commissioners to start sending monthly reports for which standard formats have been devised. We have different types and large number of projects , schemes and programmes, all intended to provide requisite benefits and utilities to the public.
The decision to this effect, looks really of a great potential help in knowing if the intended results were achieved in respect of a project as per the plans.Monitoring encompasses giving and obtaining meaningful feedback to all stakeholders , in the present case to the UT Government and its associated agencies and bodies, involved in the project. Information can be and should be gathered pertaining to all aspects of a project and observe and record all activities occurring on it . The UT Chief Secretary, while receiving various inputs and feedback during his visit to many districts, felt the necessity of devising a mechanism and the same was subsequently tailored to suit the purpose and shared by him with the District Authorities . It is all the more expected to be an effective mechanism as the monitoring and appraising will be done at the level of the Chief Secretary, General Administration Department and Planning, Development and Monitoring Department in order to ensure that key points and associated guidelines were complied with. At the same time, even the appraisal and the details of the progress achieved under different flagship schemes and programmes like JalJeevan Mission, MGNREGA, Kissan Credit Cards, status of Languishing Projects too are to be sought periodically.
May it be squarely noted by the authorities designated to monitor the projects at ground levels that monitoring did not comprise doing analytical work, filling in the figures and the data and furnish the periodic statement on the standard format devised at the instructions of the Chief Secretary but understanding the metrics and the forecast as to where a particular project was heading and whether timeline and quality standards were given due credence. What was needed is to see the performance of the core team involved in the project and whether the performance was up to the mark stage -wise . Since funds position and theirtimely availability are the major hindrances, budgeted allocation and release of funds stage-wise, staff and workforce position, project deadlines and goals and new issues popping up intermittently, needed to be given heed and remedial alternatives and solutions asked for. Other reasons and issues that were directly or indirectly related to the success and sustainability of the ongoing project must be an ingredient of the monitoring process. We trust, all these particulars must have been incorporated and space created in the devised format for the periodic report submission to the Chief Secretary and other UT departments.
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