Jairam Ramesh proposes special AG for rural audit

In view of the increased corruption cases received from several states on the expenditure of the Centre’s rural development schemes, the Union rural development ministry has proposed to establish separate cells in each state under the special accountant general to audit the rural development expenses.

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said here on Sunday that his ministry would soon write to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to appoint special accountant general for each state to audit rural development expenses and make sure that the Central schemes were properly executed.

Ramesh on his two-day visit to the state capital, traveled several villages under Gumla district to make review on the Centre’s two major schemes – Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

 

During the minister’s visit to the villages in Gumla district, village women made a demand to the Union minister for setting up Mahila Mandal (women’s committee) to make audits on the expenses of Centre’s rural schemes.

The minister appreciated the proposal and said that the state government should consider it.