NEW DELHI: Concerned over irregular meetings of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA), rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has decided to write to all the newly elected MPs to ensure meetings are held to expedite development work on the ground.
The Chairperson of a DISHA committee is the senior most MP (Lok Sabha) elected from the district and the meetings of the committee are to be attended by all elected representatives and officials from the district.
The issue was discussed at a meeting with officials on Friday evening, as Chouhan reviewed the action plan for the next 100 days of various schemes and emphasized on implementation of the same in an effective manner.
Besides this, while discussing the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Chouhan has asserted that going forward they will have to structure the project for an “ideal life for the elderly, widows and the disabled, and for this, if there is a need to change the rules and regulations of the scheme, then amendments should also be made.”
A significant component of NSAP is focussed on pension for seniors, persons with disabilities and widows, all of whom belong to the Below Poverty Line category. The eligibility criteria and other concerns related to NSAP were discussed at the meeting.
During the review Chouhan also emphasized on the importance of the district development coordination and monitoring committees (DISHA). The ministry has stressed “there is a need to further strengthen the Disha Committees” and therefore he will write a letter to all the newly elected MPs to request them to ensure that the meetings of these committees are held on time so that problems can be addressed and progress monitored continuously.
These committees are formed to ensure better coordination among all the elected representatives in Parliament, state legislatures and local govts like Panchayati Raj institutions and Municipal bodies for efficient and time-bound development. They are supposed to hold quarterly reviews of all development activity at the district level.
The DISHA committees have the power to seek information and demand effective follow up on issues raised during the deliberations and the district collector is responsible for ensuring compliance.
The Chairperson of a DISHA committee is the senior most MP (Lok Sabha) elected from the district and the meetings of the committee are to be attended by all elected representatives and officials from the district.
The issue was discussed at a meeting with officials on Friday evening, as Chouhan reviewed the action plan for the next 100 days of various schemes and emphasized on implementation of the same in an effective manner.
Besides this, while discussing the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Chouhan has asserted that going forward they will have to structure the project for an “ideal life for the elderly, widows and the disabled, and for this, if there is a need to change the rules and regulations of the scheme, then amendments should also be made.”
A significant component of NSAP is focussed on pension for seniors, persons with disabilities and widows, all of whom belong to the Below Poverty Line category. The eligibility criteria and other concerns related to NSAP were discussed at the meeting.
During the review Chouhan also emphasized on the importance of the district development coordination and monitoring committees (DISHA). The ministry has stressed “there is a need to further strengthen the Disha Committees” and therefore he will write a letter to all the newly elected MPs to request them to ensure that the meetings of these committees are held on time so that problems can be addressed and progress monitored continuously.
These committees are formed to ensure better coordination among all the elected representatives in Parliament, state legislatures and local govts like Panchayati Raj institutions and Municipal bodies for efficient and time-bound development. They are supposed to hold quarterly reviews of all development activity at the district level.
The DISHA committees have the power to seek information and demand effective follow up on issues raised during the deliberations and the district collector is responsible for ensuring compliance.
