NDA regime has taken several development initiatives which need effective evaluation: Rao Inderjit Singh

The NDA Government has taken several developmental initiatives such as Make in India campaign, the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, the Digital India campaign and the Jan Dhan Yojana etc., which need effective monitored and evaluation for better delivery, said Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh.

Inaugurating the five-day EvalWeek, which will focus on strategies to spread awareness about these programmes of good governance, Singh said a major task before the NITI Aayog is to actively ensure their implementation.

He further stated that it was absolutely imperative for the government to ensure proper channelization of the Central Plan expenditure of Rs. 5.75 lakh crore (about USD 92 billion).

Calling for time-bound, ethical and credible evaluations based on ground level evidence and feedback, Singh said it was the right time to consider developing a National Evaluation Policy that would provide direction to MandE activities in the country, laying stress upon maintenance of quality standards and application of sound, ethical procedures through appropriate institutional mechanisms.

The minister observed that United Nations was in the process of developing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which would build upon the Millenium Development Goals and would form the basis for global development for the next 15 years. A robust system should be in place to monitor progress towards these goals of gender equality, social equity and protection of environment.

The National Institute for Labour Economics Research and Development (NILRD) and the Programme Evaluation Organization of NITI Aayog organized the event.

Singh congratulated NITI Aayog and NILERD for coming together to organize this timely initiative.

Several technical sessions and other events will be held during the Evalweek, including round tables on gender-responsive and equity focused evaluations, case studies, emerging challenges, participatory approaches to evaluation and so on.