(a) the details of schemes being run by `CAPART` in the country during each of the
last three years, and till date with State-wise breakup;
(b) the details of the achievements made by CAPART, as on date;
(c) whether the Government propose to make the working of `CAPART` more
effective and transparent;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT(SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in Reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question number 94 for answer on 27th February, 2001.
(a): M/s CAPART had, till March, 1999, undertaken to implement various straight-jacketed
schemes, viz. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY), Housing, Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP), Organisation of Beneficiaries (OB), Social Animators Training (SAT), Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), Public Cooperation (PC), Advancement of Rural Technology (ARTS), Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Panchayati Raj (PR), Social Forestry (SF), Watershed Development (WD), Disability Action (DA) and Media. From 1st April, 1999, in order to impart flexibility to the Schemes, M/s CAPART have been extending assistance to Voluntary Organisations (VOs) under three main Schemes, namely, Public Cooperation (PC), Organisation of Beneficiaries (OB) and Advancement of Rural Technology (ARTS). M/s CAPART also supports projects under Disability Action (DA) and Watershed Development (WD). The Schemes are uniform for all the States/Union Territories.
(b): Since inception in September, 1986, till 31.12.2000, M/s CAPART sanctioned 19364
projects involving an amount of Rs.555.15 crores and released an amount of Rs. 427.00 crores.
(c),(d) &( e): In order to introduce transparency in M/s CAPART`s and to make its working
more effective, as also to ensure involvement of VOs in decision making (especially for sanction of projects), a Committee system was introduced in the Organization by constituting National Standing Committees (NSCs) at Head Office level and Regional Committees at the regional level. The NSCs are empowered to sanction projects up to Rupees one crore, while projects of higher outlay (above Rupees one crore) are considered by the Executive Committee. The Regional Committees are empowered to sanction projects up to Rupees twenty lakhs.
The other initiatives taken in this direction include:-
- The Organisational Profile of the Voluntary Organisation (to be submitted with the proposal) now requires detailed information to be furnished in regard to the Organization.
- The monitoring of the entire project cycle, from its receipt to closure, has been computerized which bans acceptance of any proposal for registration, unless the requisite documents are available with the proposal, as per the prescribed norms. No proposal is taken up for processing unless it is registered in the computer. Sanction letter, pay order, letter forwarding cheque, names of the monitors, competent authority to appoint the monitor, monitor letter, completion and closing, are fully computerized.
- Every proposal, either for sanction or rejection, is invariably placed before the NSC/RC. The concerned Committee reaches decision after taking into consideration all relevant facts, including the pre-funding appraisal report of the Project Evaluator, viability of the project and credibility of the Voluntary Organisation.
- The monitoring of projects is done by deputing Project Evaluators at different stages of the project cycle, namely, before sanctioning a project as pre- funding appraisal, during implementation of the project as mid-term evaluation and on completion of the project as post evaluation.
- Exhibition of particulars of the project sanctioned, at the project site, has been made mandatory.
- To keep the public informed in regard to the benefits of various Schemes, the agency of Gram Panchayats as also news letters are utilized as channels of information. Copies of the sanction letters are made available to the concerned Gram Panchayats, apart from the District Collectors concerned .
- M/s CAPART has its own website at www.capart.nic.in which contains all the information about the organisation. Voluntary Organisations can visit and access project related information.
- To encourage voluntary movement, with active participation of the concerned States, awareness campaigns are undertaken where the voluntary movement is weak.
- To demystify and clarify CAPART schemes, Workshops are held for Project formulation.
- Empanelment of Project Evaluators is done through a Committee, in a fair and transparent manner. Assignments are given to Project Evaluators based on specialized knowledge in a given area.
- To curb irregular practices, M/s CAPART have evolved Guidelines to impose funding restrictions on the Voluntary Organisations.
- Time frame has been evolved for submission of the Evaluation Reports.
- The Executive Committee of M/s CAPART has approved Policy Guidelines, which lay down the parameters as per which the Organization is to function.