(a) whether the High Powered Expert Committee constituted under the chairmanship
of Ms. Krishna Singh, the advisor of Planning Commission has recommended to
set up a Central nodal agency for implementation of all the schemes pertaining to
various Ministries regarding poverty alleviation schemes;
(b) if so, the details of the poverty alleviation schemes proposed to be brought under
this nodal agency; and
(c) the decision taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES IN THE
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS.
(SHRI ARUN SHOURIE)
(a) to (c) The Planning Commission has not set up a High Powered Expert
Committee headed by Ms. Krishna Singh, Adviser, Planning Commission.
However, a committee was set up in February, 1997 under the Chairmanship
of Prof. S.R. Hashim, the then Member, Planning Commission to Review and
Rationalise Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Poverty Alleviation and
Employment Generation. The programmes/schemes of the then Ministry of
Rural Areas & Employment (now Ministry of Rural Development), Ministry
of Welfare (now Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment), Department of
Small Scale Industries, Agro & Rural Industries and Department of Women &
Child Development were examined by the Committee. The Committee
submitted its Report in April, 1997. The Committee recommended
streamlining the existing schemes and rationalisation of norms and procedures
for their implementation. There is no proposal in the Report to bring all the
poverty alleviation schemes under a single Central nodal agency.