State and district vigilance and monitoring committees, formed by the rural development ministry in August last year to keep a watch on the effective implementation of all the flagship schemes of the ministry have not been meeting since their formation.  

Members of parliament (MPs), who are the nominated chairmen of these committees, have brought this to the notice of the rural development minister CP Joshi.

“The issues was raised in the performance review committee meeting held by the ministry last week and the rural development  minister directed the states to hold these meetings quarterly, failing which funds released to the districts could be withheld ,” said an official in the rural development ministry.

The RD ministry formed these committees with a view to ensure the quality of expenditure, particularly, in the context of large public funds being spent under all the programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development.

While the state vigilance and monitoring committee is headed by the state rural development minister, the district vigilance and monitoring committee is headed by the area MP. The district magistrates are the members of the district vigilance monitoring committee.

These Committees are expected to keep a watch on the implementation of the programmes as per the prescribed procedures and Guidelines.

The objectives include providing a crucial role for the MPs and elected representatives of the people in state legislatures and panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the implementation of the Rural Development programmes and to put in place a mechanism to monitor the execution of the schemes in the most effective manner and within the given time frame so that public funds are put to optimal use and programme benefits flow to the rural poor in full measure.

These Committees are also to effectively liaise and coordinate with the ministry of rural development and state governments.

The Ministry can withhold releases to districts, which do not hold regular meetings of Vigilance and Monitoring Committees.