Lok Sabha Question No. 2490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-01
Subject: Tribal Welfare Scheme in West Bengal
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Khan Saumitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED NO -2490

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 01/08/2022

## TRIBAL WELFARE SCHEME IN WEST BENGAL

## 2490. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state?

- (a) whether any central project monitoring units have been set up in the State of West Bengal to oversee  the  implementation  of  tribal  welfare  schemes,  as  announced  by  the  Government  in November 2021;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the status of allocation, disbursal and utilisation of fund toward this initiative, as on date, for both Central and State units;
- (d) whether the Government has set deadlines for the Central and State monitoring units to be functional; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a)  to  (e): The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  implements  various  Central  Sector  and  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  through  States  /UT  Government.   Ministry  has  in  last  few  years  has undergone a major strategic shift from physical management of schemes to complete end to end digitization of fund release processes. For robust implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Schemes, support is to be provided to the States/UTs.

Ministry is not aware about specific announcement of the Government for setting PMUs in State of  West Bengal.  However, the NITI Aayog has initiated Data Governance Quality Index which evaluates various Ministries on data-based Governance and has advised all Ministries to set up data  and  strategy  units  in  Ministry  for  digitization  of  processes  related  to  implementation  and monitoring of Central Sector/Centrally sponsored schemes of ministries/Departments.

Till  14 th Finance Cycle (from 2016-17 to 2020-21), amount ranging from 1-2% of the scheme was  given  to  States/UTs  as  administrative  cost  for  effective  implementation  of  the  Schemes. While approving the continuation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of STs over the 15 th Finance Commission (2021-22 to 2025-26), Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), has recommended to  set  up  Central  Project  Monitoring  Unit  (CPMU)  at  Ministry  level  and  State Programme  Management  Unit  (SPMU)  at  State  level  for effective implementation and monitoring  of  the  combined  schemes  of  the  Ministry.   EFC  has  inter-alia  recommended  for 'Administrative  Cost  to  States/UTs  for  implementation  of  combined  Schemes'  with  total financial outlay of Rs 50.03 crore for FY 2021-22 for setting up State Programme Management Unit in States/UTs.

The cabinet has also approved an allocation of Rs 20 Cr for setting up of Central PMU under the scheme of Monitoring, Evaluation, Survey and Social Audit. The central PMU will co- ordinate with  the  State  units  for  providing  data  in  respect  of  various  schemes,  which  will  be  used  for effective monitoring and evaluation.

Ministry of Finance vide their communication dated 01.02.2022, has approved the recommendation of the EFC. Since all of the schemes of the Ministry have been digitized, the setting up of state PMUs will go a long way in monitoring the funds being given to States under different Centrally sponsored and central Sector Schemes.

*****