'MPLAD Scheme to be monitored, evaluated'

New Delhi, Aug 24: The Government proposed to involve national level monitors, agencies and institutions for monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan said today.

The change in the monitoring mechanism was being proposed from the current year, he said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The Government was actively considering getting "a comprehensive and qualitative assessment of the MPLADS works executed or under execution by the implementing agencies and to study whether various aspects such as topographical, structural, environmental, social, cultural and statutory requirements have been taken into account in the sanction and execution of MPLADS works," the Minister said.

Revised guidelines on MPLADS issued on November 16, 2005 provided for a clear role for the Central Government, the state governments, district authorities and implementing agencies in monitoring and reviewing the scheme.

The Minister told the members that an evaluation study of the MPLAD Scheme undertaken by the Programme Evaluation Organisation (PEO) of the Planning Commission, submitted in January 2002, had suggested effective implementation and monitoring of the MPLAD Scheme for better results.

UNI