In an important announcement that may impact Meghalaya, the Centre has decided to discontinue the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) administration scheme from April 1 next year.
According to a letter from the Ministry of Rural Development sent to all states and union territories on November 1, the DRDA administration scheme “will be discontinued with effect from April 1, 2022”.
The states and union territories have also been asked to merge the DRDAs with Zila Parishad or Zila Panchayats.
For the North East states where there is no Zila Parishad or Zila Panchayat, the Centre directed that DRDAs should be merged with District Councils or any other body as may be decided by the State government.
The letter also said that staff working at the DRDAs on deputation basis can be absorbed back in their parent departments.
It also said that the support staff that are on the rolls of the DRDAs may be absorbed either by the appropriate line departments or district planning and monitoring body as per their qualification.
“In case such fitment is not possible and is not organic, they can be placed with the schemes such as MGNREGS, PMAY, NSAP, etc as per their competence and qualification in suitable capacities,” the letter from the Ministry of Rural Development said.
It also said that the balance unutilised amount with DRDAs as on March 31, 2022 reflected in audit reports should be transferred to Zila Parishads, Zila Panchayats or any other body as the case may be and be accounted for in subsequent releases.
DRDA is the principal organ at the district level to oversee the implementation of different anti-poverty programmes.
In 1999, the Government of India had introduced the ‘DRDA Administration’ scheme under which the salary and administrative expenses of DRDAs are funded on a 90:10 basis between the Centre and states.
The primary objective of the DRDA Scheme is to professionalise the DRDAs so that they are able to effectively manage the poverty alleviation programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development and interact effectively with other agencies.
In Meghalaya, the DRDA is set up in all districts of the State. It is headed by the Project Director who is assisted by a team of officers and staff.
