Lok Sabha Question No. 2646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Complaints Regarding PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2646 ANSWERED ON 14/12/2021

## COMPLAINTS REGARDING PMGSY

## 2646.   SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  complaints  have  been  received  regarding  not  consulting  the  elected  public representatives  including  Members  of  Parliament  in  launching  new  projects  under various  rural  development  schemes  including  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana (PMGSY);
- (b) if so, the number of such complaints received during the last three years and current year along with the action taken by the Government thereon;
- (c) whether  the  Government  propose  to  assign  big  responsibilities  to  elected  public representatives in respect of execution of rural development projects;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, scheme-wise ;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  put  any  independent  monitoring  and complaint redressal system in place under the supervision  of concerned Member of Parliament at district level; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) to (b) In terms of the advisory issued by the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development on foundation laying/inauguration of projects of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), all elected representatives associated with the programme should be duly invited to the foundation laying and inauguration ceremonies. The foundation stone for a PMGSY road should be laid and on completion of the work, the road should be inaugurated by the Hon'ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) with the function presided over by the local Hon'ble Minister or other dignitary as per State protocol.

The  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  is  a demand driven scheme with bottom to top approach. Under the scheme, the Gram Panchayat is responsible for identifying the project in the Gram Panchayat area to be taken up as per the recommendation of  Gram  Sabha/Ward Sabha.  The  Pradhan  Mantri  Awaas  Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) is an individual beneficiary oriented scheme.

A total of 8 complaints have been received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament during the last three years and current year complaining about non-invitation in foundation laying and inauguration  ceremonies  of  projects  under  PMGSY.  The  complaints  were  examined  in consultation  with  the  concerned  States/UTs  and  the  Hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  were apprised  of  the  factual  reports  submitted  by  the  State  Government  concerned  on  the complaints.

In order to ensure that the advisory issued by the Ministry with regard to role of Hon'ble MP in foundation laying/inauguration of PMGSY project are complied with in letter and spirit, the  Ministry  has  time  and  again  advised  all  the  State  Governments/Union  Territories  to strictly comply with the provisions of the advisory.

(c) to (f)      The PMGSY has inbuilt mechanism for consultation with public representatives at planning, selection of roads and monitoring stages.  As per the programme guidelines, the proposals  received  from  the  Members  of  Parliament  with  regard  to  selection  of  roads  are given  full  consideration  and  such  proposals  that  cannot  be  included  are  communicated  in writing to the Members of Parliament with reasons for non-inclusion of such proposal in each case. In order to ensure that the State Government give due attention towards provisions of the  programme  guidelines while submitting the proposals to the Ministry of Rural Development  for  sanction,  the  Ministry  has  issued  an  advisory  to  the  States  on  2 nd June, 2020. The State Governments have been advised, inter-alia , to communicate the final list of proposals  in  the  order  of  priority  to  the  Member  of  Parliament  with  the  reasons  for  noninclusion of certain roads in the proposals and obtain their consent on the proposals sent for approval.

At  monitoring  stage,  as  per  the  guidelines,  the  Superintending  Engineer  concerned  of  the zone/region  will  request  the  Hon'ble  MP  and  Zilla  Pramukh  representing  that  zone/region once in six months to select any PMGSY projects for joint inspection. The schedule of joint inspection will be fixed as per the convenience of MP/Zila Pramukh. The Executive Engineer in-charge  of  a  division  will  request  the  Hon'ble  Member  of  Legislative  Assembly  and Chairperson  of  the  Intermediate  Panchayat  concerned  once  in  three  months  for  joint inspection  of  any  PMGSY  project  as  per  their  choice  and  according  to  their  convenience. Similarly,  the  Assistant  Engineer  in-charge  of  sub-division  will  make  similar  request  to Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat once in two months.

The  District  Development  Coordination  and  Monitoring  Committee  (DISHA)  headed  by Hon'ble Member of Parliament (LS) monitors all  non-statutory schemes of Government of India, including rural development schemes.

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