No meeting of State, Distt level DISHA Committees convened
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 28: Monitoring implementation of around 40 Centrally Sponsored Schemes has remained least priority for the Governor’s Administration as well as Members of the Parliament as no meeting of the State and District level DISHA Committees has been convened since long in blatant violation of the explicit directives of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that over a period of time significantly large number of programmes/schemes cutting across sectors have become operational to change the landscape of rural areas in terms of sustainable development, meeting infrastructural needs and for improving human resource development.
The task of monitoring implementation of around 40 schemes/programmes in the rural development sector has been assigned to DISHA Committees at the State and district levels as Members of Parliament and elected representatives of the State Government have a crucial role to ensure that these schemes are executed in an efficient and transparent manner and benefits reach the targeted population in a time bound manner.
As far as State level DISHA Committee is concerned, in the absence of an elected Government in the State (as is the case with Jammu and Kashmir at present), senior most Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) in the committee is the Chairperson and next senior most Member of the Parliament is the Co-Chairperson. The Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development is the Member Secretary of the Committee.
As per the guidelines of the Union Rural Development Ministry, meeting of the State Level DISHA Committee should be held at least once in every six months but this time-frame has not been strictly adhered to by the MPs as well as concerned bureaucrats of the State during the current year so far.
The non-serious approach towards holding meeting(s) of the State level DISHA Committee is notwithstanding the fact that the Committee is required to review implementation status in respect of decisions taken in the District level DISHA Committees, address implementation constraints and give suggestions to improve designs of approved programmes to make mid-term course corrections, review flow of funds in fulfilment of State’s obligations in relation to various programmes and projects, review constraints impeding the timely implementation of various projects with a view to ensure timelines in extending the required clearances by State authorities and look into complaints/alleged irregularities in respect of implementation of the schemes/programmes.
“The State level DISHA Committee is also required to perform coordination and monitoring oversight functions over the developmental projects being brought into its consideration through the agenda note and issue directions to the State authorities for removal of impediments”, sources said.
As far as District level DISHA Committees are concerned, the Member of the Parliament elected from the district is the Chairperson and concerned District Collector/District Magistrate is the Member Secretary. As per the guidelines of the Union Rural Development Ministry, District level DISHA Committees are required to meet at least once in every quarter.
However, Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir elected during the second term of Narendra Modi-led Government have failed to meet this timeline in blatant violation of the guidelines of the Union Ministry.
“The failure to meet the timeline is notwithstanding the fact that District level DISHA Committees are required to ensure that all programmes are implemented in accordance with the guidelines, facilitate coordinated solution to remove constraints of any kind, resolve matters related to provision of land and space for faster roll out of priorities and identify issues for follow-up in Parliament, State Assemblies and local Governments for timely achievement of objectives”, sources said.
They further said, “by not strictly adhering to the guidelines of the Union Rural Development Ministry the Members of Parliament and concerned bureaucrats of the State are creating impediments in achieving objective behind the robust mechanism of monitoring implementation of schemes and programmes”.
The schemes whose implementation is required to be monitored by the State and District level DISHA Committees include MGNREGA, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, PMGSY, National Social Assistant Programme, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna Gramin, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation National Health Mission etc.
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