Social audit system in urban development schemes

In an initiative to promote transparency in execution of development schemes, the Urban Development Ministry will introduce social audit system for new schemes.
This was stated by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry here today.
Naidu also said that Consultative Committees would be set up at the district level for monitoring implementation of the projects to avoid delays.
He said these committees comprising local MPs would also examine the resource position of the urban local bodies and their ability to execute the projects. These committees would be co-chaired by one of the Members of Parliament along with the District Collector.

Giving an account of the governance deficit in respect of most of the urban local bodies in the country, Naidu said, respective urban bodies should hold a general body meeting and adopt a resolution on implementation of urban reforms, for project proposals to be considered by the central government.
He informed the Consultative Committee members that all states agreed to implement a set of 25 identified reforms and a National Declaration on Urban Reforms and Housing for All by 2022 was adopted to this effect at the conclave of Urban Development Ministers of States held on July 3.

Naidu urged the MPs to actively participate and lead in their respective areas the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' to be launched on October 2.

He informed the MPs that new urban development initiatives like building 100 Smart Cities, new mission for 500 towns and Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) would be launched soon.
MPs who attended the Consultative Committee meeting include Bhartruhari Mehtab, Prahlad Venkatesh Joshi, Vijai Goel, Vandana Chavan, Santosh Ahlawat, Parvesh Sahib Singh, Raghav Lakhanpal, Santok Singh Chowdary, Mahesh Sharma, Sanjay Dattatreya Kakde, Saumitra Khan, Rajan Baburao Vichare and G Ganga Raju.