Question : MONITORING COMMITTEES

(a) the role envisaged to the public representatives, in the implementation of various rural development programmes and schemes;

(b) the periodicity of holding regular meetings of the Vigilance and Monitoring Committees at State and district levels for reviewing various rural development programmes;

(c) whether the meetings of the said Committees are being held regularly in every State and district of the country including Madhya Pradesh;

(d) if so, the details thereof including the number of meetings of such Committees held during the last three years and the current year in each State with particular reference to Madhya Pradesh; and

(e) corrective action proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure holding such meetings as per the guidelines?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. C. P. JOSHI)

(a)to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question number 461 for reply on 13.12.2010.

(a): Specific roles have been envisaged for the public representatives including the Members of Parliament in the implementation and monitoring of rural development programmes by the Ministry of Rural Development as given below:

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): Under PMGSY, the States have been advised to organize time bound inspection of road works with local public representatives.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Act, 2005: Under Section 13(1) of the MGNREGA, the Panchayats at district, intermediate and village level shall be the principal authority for planning and implementation of the Schemes. Under Section 16 (1), the Gram Panchayats shall be responsible for identification of project in the Gram Panchayat area as recommended by Gram Sabha for executing and supervising such works. Under Section 16(5) at least 50% of the works in terms of cost shall be allocated under a scheme to be implemented through the Gram Panchayats.

Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Under IWMP, the District Planning Committee (DPC) which comprises of elected representative of district provides full governance support and approves the annual action plan including integration with overall district plan and oversees its implementation.

National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP): Under NRDWP provision have been made under para 15 of the programme guidelines which envisage to give priority to the proposals received from Members of Parliament and MPs. are also required to be informed of inclusion or otherwise of their proposals.

The Vigilance & Monitoring Committees (V&MCs) provide crucial role to the Members of Parliament and other elected representatives of people in reviewing the implementation of the programmes of the Ministry. After the formation of the XV Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Rural Development has advised all the States/UTs to reconstitute the Vigilance & Monitoring Committees (V&MCs) at State and District levels.

(b)to(d): The guidelines of the V&MCs stipulate that the Meetings at State and District levels are to be held every quarter. Details of number of V&MC Meetings held at State and district level, as reported by the States/UTs, during the last 4 years including the current year are given at Annexure.

(e): The Guidelines have recently been revised with a view to make them more effective. The revised guidelines stipulate that the Member Secretary is personally responsible for convening the Meetings. Further, the Ministry of Rural Development has been advising the States/Districts at various levels to convene more V&MC meetings.