Accountability to be fixed for delay in execution of rural development works

Bhopal: Panchayat & Rural Development and Social Justice Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava has directed CEOs of Zila Panchayats to complete works going on under MNREGA and other schemes for years within prescribed time-limit. He said that negligence in implementation of the schemes meant for the poor and deprived sections will not be tolerated. Shri Bhargava made district-wise review of ongoing development and public welfare works in rural areas of the state. The review meeting was held at the Academy of Administration here.
Minister Shri Bhargava said that panchayat and block-level construction works’ progress should be reviewed in detail, works should be completed soon and utilisation certificates submitted at the earliest. Shri Bhargava said that departmental staff should discharge its duties effectively and quality norms in construction works should be adhered to strictly. Shri Bhargava hoped that targets under rural development schemes will be met in next two months. He asked the departmental staff to discharge their duties without any pressure and influence. He desired that banking institutions will cooperate in the implementation of welfare schemes meant for the poor and deprived sections of society.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary Panchayats & Rural Development and Development Commissioner Smt. Aruna Sharma undertook district-wise departmental audit. She informed that now, steps have been initiated to get Gram Panchayats’ accounts audited by chartered accountants. Audit agencies will soon be appointed in all the districts. These auditors will audit all the development works carried out by Gram Panchayats. She directed to initiate process of recovering remaining funds for previous years’ construction works from concerning departments and sarpanchas. FIRs should be filed against those who do not give account of such funds.
Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Sharma directed to pay attention to field inspections and visits to rural areas three days a week. A campaign should be launched to complete works lying incomplete for years and get them evaluated. Smt. Sharma clarified that if found guilty of irregularities in execution of development works, strict action will be taken against officers accountable for it right from CEO to lower ranks. She directed that MNREGA works should be carried out on convergence basis and contractors should never be assigned any work. Besides, funds received from the 10th and 11th Finance Commission and stamp duty should be used in infrastructure development and utilisation certificates sent at the earliest. The pace of construction of toilets in rural houses under Total Sanitation Campaign should be expedited.
Stressing the need for effective implementation of MIS arrangements, MNREGA Commissioner Dr. Ravindra Pastor directed that details of works under the scheme should be submitted as early as possible. He said that a three-member team will visit every Gram Panchayat for preparing labour budget. The team will assess requirement of jobs in village. Besides, process will also be undertaken to update job cards. Names of those job card holders, who have not demanded work during last three years, have migrated or died, will be removed with consent of Gram Sabha. Besides, new job cards will be prepared for the persons who have attained adulthood or settled down in the village. Through these arrangements, labour budget will be finalised at village, panchayat, Janpad panchayat and district levels and job-oriented works will be carried out under MNREGA as per requirement.
At the meeting, works pertaining to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Mukhyamantri Grameen Aawas Mission, accelerating pace of establishing ultra small banks under fiscal inclusion schemes in villages devoid of banks, e-panchayat arrangements and construction of panchayat buildings were discussed in detail. Information was also given about pension distribution in villages through Social Justice Department and village-wise survey for making assistance available in rural areas.
Chief Executive Officer of the Mukhyamantri Grameen Aawas Mission Smt. Alka Upadhyay, Commissioner Panchayats Shri Vishwamohan Upadhyay, Commissioner Social Justice Shri V.K. Batham also spoke on the occasion and discussed progress of departmental works.