Question : CHECKING OF LEAKAGE AND IRREGULARITIES

(a) whether the Government have not been able to fully check the leakages and irregularities in the subsidy released under the rural development programmes by the Government to the State;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken in that direction over the years; and

(c) the details of the subsidy that has been released to the State Governments and Union Territories under IRDP and such other schemes for poverty alleviation and the extent to which the same has been utilised for the purpose?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

( SHRI SUNDAR LAL PATWA)

(a) & (b): The onus of implementation of the rural development programmes rests with the State Governments and the Union Territories. However, in order to ensure proper implementation of the programmes including prevention of leakages and irregularities, the following steps have been taken/suggested by the Central Government:

Emphasis on transparency by involving Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the planning and implementation of the programmes. Selection of works and the beneficiaries by the Gram Sabha. Constitution of Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (VMC) for theses programmes at the State, District and Block levels. The local MPs and MLAs are members of the district and block level committees. Second instalment of the Central share of funds are released only after receipt of Audited Statements audited by independent Auditors. Field visits of officers of the Ministry under the Area Officers Schemes and reports regarding implementation of the programmes. The Area Officers make the field visits on the basis of selected samples of works and make physical verification of the assets on the spot. The State and District level Officers also make regular field visits and make physical verification of the assets on the spot.

(c): The details of central share of funds released to the States and Union Territories under the erstwhile Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) during the years 1997-98 and 1998-99 and under the restructured Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) during 1999-2000 are as given below:-

(Rs. in Crore)
Year	Funds released under IRDP/SGSY
1997-1998	545.02	1998-1999	625.63	1999-2000	932.23