State to evaluate 13 welfare plans

The Orissa government has decided to evaluate the performance of thirteen welfare programmes being implemented in the state.

Outside consultants of repute based on the track record and competency would be roped in for taking up the evaluation work. The state Planning and Co-ordination department would soon invite competitive bids to choose the consultant, official sources said.

The evaluation study is expected to assess the impact of these programmes and point out the weaknesses in their implementation with an objective to improve upon them.

Programmes, which are slated for evaluation, are National Food Security Mission (NFSM), input subsidy of seeds, fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, insecticides and bio-pesticides, creation of infrastructure in tribal sub-plan area (TSP), family oriented and poverty eradication programmes for tribes outside the ambit of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) or Modified Area Development Agency (MADA) and clusters.

Similarly, bankable income generating schemes being implemented by the Orissa State Forest Development Corporation (OSFDC), functioning of Boyanika, functioning of Sambalpuri bastralaya would be covered under the evaluation study.

Old age pension schemes like National Old Age Pension Scheme and Madhubabu Pension Scheme of the state government, emergency feeding programme in Nawarangpur and other KBK districts, mid-day meal scheme, skill upgradtion schemes implemented under Mission Shakti, rural piped water scheme and bio-diesel plantations including Jatropha and Karanj would be evaluated by the consultant, sources added.

Earlier, the state government had taken up similar evaluation for sixteen welfare programmes implemented in the economically backward KBK districts. However, the government is yet to take any action on the recommendations of these reports.