SRINAGAR: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Ramesh Kumar on Saturday directed officers to expedite rural development schemes, ensure financial accountability, complete pending works and resolve outstanding liabilities and administrative issues.
Chairing a review meeting at Panchayat Bhawan, Humhama, Budgam, Kumar assessed the progress of major programmes, including Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM-G), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G), Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
The review also covered UT CAPEX works, infrastructure for District Development Councils (DDCs), Block Development Councils (BDCs) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Viksit Village projects, financial management, development planning, court cases and administrative compliance.
Reviewing VB-GRAM-G, the Secretary stressed timely wage and material payments, stronger field-level monitoring, regular inspections and improved reporting. He directed officers to complete unfinished works and initiate recovery proceedings wherever irregularities, excess payments or other recoverable amounts had been identified.
Kumar called for comprehensive Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), ensuring their proper approval and accurate uploading on relevant portals. Deficiencies flagged by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) were to be examined and discrepancies between approved plans and online records rectified promptly.
He directed that Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans (VGPPs) incorporate key local development interventions, with particular attention to provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Water-related works and relevant interventions of the Jal Shakti Department were also to be included wherever applicable.
The Secretary stressed effective use of Gram Sabha meetings to discuss, validate and document proposed works. Records of Information, Education and Communication activities, assets created, completed works and proposed interventions were to be accurately reflected on portals to strengthen transparency and grassroots planning.
Reviewing PMAY-G, he directed officers to complete pending houses, expedite verification and approvals, and take action in cases of delayed construction. Recoveries were to be pursued wherever warranted, while delayed and incomplete houses were to be dealt with under prescribed guidelines.
The meeting also reviewed UT CAPEX works relating to community development and Panchayati Raj infrastructure. Kumar called for faster execution of newly approved works and timely completion of ongoing projects.
District officers were asked to review the status of Panchayat Ghars and other development works, identify pending or uninitiated projects, address bottlenecks and ensure judicious use of funds. Physical and financial progress was to be verified against ground conditions.
On infrastructure for DDCs, BDCs and PRI functionaries, the meeting was informed that 39 of 46 approved works had been taken up, while seven remained uninitiated. The approved projects comprise 10 DDC office buildings, 26 BDC office buildings and 10 PRI residential accommodation projects.
The Secretary directed officers to examine each project, address pending construction and finishing work, and ensure proper accounting of funds released and expenditure incurred. Particular attention was to be given to incomplete buildings, pending electrification and projects requiring technical or administrative intervention. Compliance reports were also sought.
On Viksit Village projects, Kumar stressed timely processing of proposals and resolution of deficiencies. He directed officers to submit budget proposals and other required information within prescribed timelines and refer unresolved district-level issues to higher authorities.
He called for coordination with Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners and other authorities to resolve land disputes and administrative issues delaying projects, particularly those related to Panchayat infrastructure.
Officers were also directed to pursue pending court cases, file objections and replies within prescribed timelines and maintain regular follow-up with concerned authorities.
Taking note of inadequate preparation during the review, Kumar directed district officers to attend future meetings with complete, updated and verifiable information. He asked them to submit work-wise status reports of all pending projects by the following morning, indicating the present status, reasons for delay and expected completion date.
Assistant Commissioners Panchayats and other field functionaries were directed to submit geo-tagged photographs of pending works along with detailed progress reports and firm completion timelines. Regular field inspections and follow-up were also emphasised.
Reviewing outstanding liabilities, the Secretary directed officers to implement the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) already circulated by the department. District- and block-level committees constituted to examine pending liabilities were asked to scrutinise cases, establish reasons for non-payment and take action for settlement under the prescribed mechanism.
He stressed that genuine liabilities must be examined and settled systematically in accordance with applicable guidelines, noting that unresolved payment issues had repeatedly created difficulties for the department and field functionaries.
Kumar also directed officers to prepare and submit disaster-related reports in the prescribed format and book administrative expenditure under appropriate heads in accordance with Ministry guidelines.
He assured officers that genuine operational difficulties and implementation-related bottlenecks brought to the department’s notice would be examined for timely resolution.
