Setting a deadline for disposing off the complaints and enquiries pending with Rural Development Department, the State Vigilance Commission directed the officers of the department to make monitoring mechanism more effective at all levels to improve the working of the department and check the corrupt practices resorted to by some officials in the department.These directions were issued by the Commission at a review meeting held here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, convened to review the status of the complaints and enquire pendency in the Rural Development Department.While going into the details of the complaints and Regular Departmental Actions (RDAs), the meeting was informed that out of 823 complaints, 215 pertain to Jammu division, 233 to Kashmir division, 73 are lying with administrative department and 302 with police and other departments. It was also informed that 51 complaints stand disposed off so far and the department has made recoveries in some cases besides withholding annual increment etc of perpetrators against whom irregularities were established.
Discussing the status of the RDAs, the Commission received status report of 13 RDAs from the department out of 19 pending with them, showing that 5 RDAs have been closed while proceedings have been initiated in 8 cases and the report is awaited from subordinate offices.The Commission asked the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Rural Development Department to exercise his powers as conferred under the State Vigilance Commission Rules, 2013 and take required assistance from the department.Regarding implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, the Commission observed that most of the complaints, received by the Commission, are about the change of location of works in contravention of approved plans and stressed for adhering to strictly the guidelines prescribed. The Commission directed the department to make sure that all the works are executed in accordance with approved plans that too without altering locations as is being practised by some Block Development Officers for benefiting particular persons.
While receiving brief about the e-payments, the Commission was informed that payments through cheques has been stopped and are now directly transferred into the accounts of the beneficiaries.Stressing for ensuring maximum participation of people in framing development plans, the Commission directed the officers of RDD to evolve a system for checking the abuse of system by Sarpanchs and Panchs. The Commission was informed that department has established Monitoring Committees in every village in addition to Sarpanchs and Panchs to oversee developmental plans being implemented on ground.Regarding videography and photography of the works, the Commission underlined the need for having these uploaded on official website indicating the location, cost and year of execution of the work. The Commission also asked the authorities to make official website interactive so that people can post comments and lodge complaints without any hindrance.Among others, Vigilance Commissioners, Dr. R.K.Jerth and Gous-Ul-Nisa, Special Secretary, RDD, K.L.Khajuria, Director, RDD, Kashmir Tasaduq Jeelani, Director RDD Jammu, M L Raina besides Secretary, Addl. Secretary, CPO and other senior officer of the Commission were present in the meeting.