Common Accounting Format For All Rural Development Scheme

The Ministries of Rural development and Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation have taken the initiative to prepare, a common accounting format for all rural development schemes to have a transparent accounting system. A committee of Experts is being set up to suggest modifications needed in existing accounting procedures. Talking to media in New Delhi, Rural Development Minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh said that the committee will submit its report in four months. 

The Minister announced that Comptroller and Auditor General, CAG will now scrutinize all the schemes of Rural Development Ministry and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He said these Ministries annually spend 88,000 crore rupees, which is the single largest amount of public expenditure other than Defence. Describing CAG as a body that is empowered by the Constitution, Mr. Ramesh said the Accountant Generals in different states will be empowered to carry out the audit of Rural Development Ministry expenditure for various schemes including Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.

Emphasising the need for accountability and transparency in implementation of various rural development programmes, he said, CAG will take up performance audit in twelve States within a couple of days. These states include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Marharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bangal and Assam.

Stressing for action on reports submitted by national and state level monitoring committees, the Minister said that these reports should be taken seriously. He informed that an important decision to include village level playgrounds in MGNREGA has been taken by the Centre. These playgrounds will be built in 16 Naxal affected States.