Centre to rank states on basis of rural scheme implementation

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

The Centre will henceforth rank performance of states with regard to implementation of rural development programmes. The need to inject the ranking order is said to be the result of assessment in the Union Rural Development Ministry that it provides incentive to the governments in keeping up the momentum of bringing the programmes on ground in right earnest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push is also for speedy development of rural India. In effect, the ranking system will be institutionalised by the ministry. Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar announced parameters on which the performance of the states would be assessed.

The parameters announced are under “Financial Management Index for Rural Development Programmes” which was released by Tomar at a video conference which was attended by 10 states, including HP.

The programmes include Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojaya-National Rural Livelihood Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Grameen and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The other states that took part in the conference are Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, MP, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, UP and Bengal.

The parameters include preparation of annual plan, projecting the requirement of funds for the financial year, expeditious release of the state’s share, internal and social audit. Timely utilisation of the funds and submission of the utilisation certificates, optimum implementation of Public Financial Management System and Direct Benefit Transfer are other metrics on which assessments would be done.

Parameters for assessment

• The parameters for ranking include preparation of annual plan, projecting requirement of funds for the financial year, expeditious release of the state’s share and internal and social audit
• Timely utilisation of funds and submission of certificates, optimum implementation of Public Financial Management System are other metrics on which assessment will be done