Question : Rural Development Schemes

(a) the details of schemes for rural development formulated by the Government along with the funds allocated, sanctioned and expenditure incurred during each of the last three years and the current year; State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government conducts regular audits to review the implementation and impact of these schemes, if so, details there and the outcome thereof;

(c) the details of the mechaniss put in place under which a beneficiary can raise grievances and highlight cases of corruption in these schemes;

(d) the current status of the implementation of the schemes in the country, State/UT-wise;

(e) whether the Government has received complaints of corruption in implementation of the schemes, if so, irregularities/details thereof including the number of cases scheme-wise and the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard, State/UT-wise; and

(f) the details of new initiative/schemes in the process of being introduced in the coming years?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a): The Ministry of Rural Development,inter alia, is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) andDeen Dayal Upadhayaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in rural areas of the country. The State/UT-wise details of funds allocated, released and utilized under these rural development programmes during the last three years and the current year are given in Annex - I.

(b): The Government reviews the implementation of various programmes with the State Governments at regular intervals and also regular audit of the programmes is carried out as per the Government rule. Compliance of audit observation is ensured while considering the release of central funds under different programmes. The Ministry also conducts impact assessment studies from time to time through the independent agencies and the findings of such studies are shared with the States and other stakeholders for taking corrective measures if needed.

(c): A Public Grievances Portal has been put in place under which beneficiary can raise grievances and highlight cases of corruption. Complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned StateGovernments for taking appropriate action including investigation, as per law. Beneficiaries can also send their grievance directly to the concerned State Governments. In addition to this,the MGNREGA provides for establishment of Ombudsman at district level for expeditious redressal of grievances on the implementation of the programme. The AwaasSoft MIS of IAY allows stakeholders to lodge complaints and track it.The Ministry launched “Meri Sadak” Mobile App for citizen feedback for PMGSY.

(d): Current status of the implementation of various programmes State/UT-wise in terms of financial progress is given in Annex-I.

(e): The Ministry has been receiving programme specific complaints from time to time on certain irregularities in implementation of these programmes such as delay in payment of wages, non adherence to the programme guidelines, corrupt practices and favouritism etc. The State-wise details of number of complaints received under different programmes are given at Annex – II. Since the rural development programmes are implemented by the State Governments, such complaints are taken up with the respective State Government immediately. The Ministry also deputes National Level Monitors to enquire into serious complaints wherever it is required. In order to minimize the irregularities the Ministry is promoting the instruments like evaluation studies and Social Audit. For the purpose of transparency the States are encouraged to put the entire information on the MIS.

(f): The main objective of rural development programmes is to bring about animprovement in the living conditions of the rural people and various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry from time to time.Some programmes have been restructured, refocused because of the change requirements. The introduction of new initiatives is a continuous process.


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