CAG to audit rural development expenditure: Ramesh

Guwahati, Oct 27: All expenditure incurred in rural development works would come under the CAG's scrutiny from next week because people have a right to know how the money was being spent, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said today (Oct 27).

"This is absolutely essential when hundred thousand crore of rupees are spent by the government all over the country for rural development. The people have a right to know...So the expenditure has to be subjected to CAG audit," the Union Rural Development Minister said.

"An announcement to this effect will be made next week," Ramesh told reporters here.

Stating that he had three rounds of discussions with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Ramesh said special accountant generals would be assigned for auditing rural funds.

The CAG would also conduct a performance audit of NREGA scheme in eleven states irrespective of the political party in power there, Ramesh said.

"I will demand the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the expenditure of rural development funds," the minister said.

PTI