Soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project Swachchh Bharat Mission will be monitored at district level by panels led by lok Sabha members in urban areas across the States.
The Union Urban Development Ministry has asked the State Governments to set up District level Review Monitoring Committee (DlRMC) to oversee the progress of the mission that aims to make the country open defecation-free by 2019.
A Rajya Sabha member will be the vice-chairperson of the panel. All the MPs from respective district will be its members. MlAs, mayor and chairperson of the municipal councils, and a professional from the education, information and communication with knowledge about sanitation will also be on the panel.
“In order to fulfill the objective of the SBM, it is essential that a robust mechanism be in place to continuously monitor progress of the programme, review implementation strategies and ensure that the funds are used effectively and for the purpose that they are meant for,” said a senior UD official.
The States have been asked to set up such panels at the earliest, while the Ministry is overseeing the mission in the urban areas.
The panel’s job will be to ensure speedy implementation of the scheme as per its guidelines and review the flow of funds by the Centre and States.
“The panel will also review physical and financial progress within the district and undertake input and output monitoring. It will also review bottlenecks in implementation of projects and suggest the way forward,” says the advisory.
It will ensure the selection of beneficiaries strictly in accordance with the guidelines.
The committee will also guide the urban local bodies on the implementation of projects relating to infrastructure and services as well as implementation of the programme.