Regular review of rural development schemes must: Raghuvansh

New Delhi, Sept 7 (UNI) Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has emphasized the importance of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committees in taking stock by the progress of implementation of various programmes launched of the Ministry.

Addressing the ninth inter active session with the MPs from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra here yesterday, Dr. Singh urged the Members of Parliament to play a major role as Chairmen of such committees and also to take out field visits for ascertaining ground level realities in implementation of the schemes like the flagship programme Bharat Nirman and schemes like NREGA, PMGSY, IAY, Sanitation and Drinking Water Supply.

MPs urged Dr. Singh to give directions that their suggestions regarding the implementation of Centrally sponsored Rural Development Schemes be given priority by the implementing agencies working under the State/ district authorities.

The members expressed concern over the reported instances of irregularities and fraudulent practices and apprised the minister of their field experiences during the verification process conducted by them for the schemes run under NREGA, TSC, SGSY and Area Development Programmes like HARYALI, DPAP and IWDP. They also raised the issues such as fake muster rolls, lesser payment to labourers, use of inferior quality material and wilful selection of work sites by the local authorities.

Dr Singh assured the MPs of an appropriate and timely action in this regard.

Ms Surya Kanta Patil and Mr Chandra Shekhar Sahu, both the Ministers of State for Rural Development, were also present on the occasion.

The objective of these group meetings was to apprise the MPs of different provisions of the rural development schemes, the status of implementation of various programmes in the concerned State and also to get their valuable feedback/suggestions based on their Review meetings as Chairmen of District Vigilance and Monitoring Committees.

The eighth such session was held with the MPs from Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The next such meeting in this series with the MPs of Bihar and Jharkhand was scheduled on September 13.

UNI