Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh here on Thursday said that his department has asked the CAG to do performance audit of all the rural development schemes in 11 states including Assam.
Informing that the Centre was spending over `1,00,000 crore annually on rural development, Mr Ramesh said, “My ministry has also asked CAG to audit entire fund of rural development in all the states besides appointing a special accountant general to oversee the utilisation of rural development funds.”
Clarifying that for performance audit states ruled by all the political parties have been selected, he said, “I am very liberal in funding but follow the policy of being ruthless on demanding the accountability.” Pointing out that Assam was getting about `3,500 crores for rural development, Mr Ramesh, who was guarded in his remark said, “I have asked the state rural development minister to lay stress on utilising the NREGA fund for irrigation, development of water bodies and land management.” He informed that Assam was giving more priority on constructing roads through the NREGA fund.
Admitting the necessity of introducing biometric cards to bring in more transparency in the payment of wages under the NREGA, Mr Ramesh said, “All the state governments have been asked to ensure the payment of wages through accounts only.”
Announcing several new projects for the state, Mr Ramesh said that Assam was getting `430 crores every year for rural drinking water programme. However, he was silent over its execution as rural Assam was still reeling under the crisis of safe drinking water.
Mr Ramesh in an oblique remark said that chief minister Tarun Gogoi has assured him to review the rural development schemes henceforth.
The rural development minister, who lauded the performance of Nagaon deputy commissioner for utilising the NREGA fund for irrigation, said, “I have been told that district has not become surplus in rice production.”