No DRDA scheme from Apr 1,2022
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 08 2021: The Union Ministry of Rural Development has informed the secretary of state's Rural Development Department that the centrally-sponsored District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) administration scheme will be discontinued from April 1 next year.

As per the letter sent by Union Minister of Rural Development undersecretary Sanjay Kumar to the secretaries of Rural Development Department of all states and union territories on November 1, the administration schemes will cease effect from April 1 next year.

The DRDA activities will be merged with the Zilla Parishad or Zilla Panchayat.

In the absence of Zilla Parishad or Zilla Panchayat, for example in the northeastern states, the DRDA activities will be merged with the District Council or other body, the decision for which will be taken by the state government.

Staff who were deputed to DRDA will be returned to their parent departments, while the support staff, if any, should be absorbed to the compatible line departments, district planning or monitoring bodies.

If none of the above is feasible, the support staff could be utilised for certain schemes, such as MGNREGS, PMAY, NSAP and other schemes.

The letter further instructed for conducting an audit of the funds sanctioned under DRDA till March 31, 2022.If any funds are left, they could be transferred to the Zilla Panchayat, Zilla Council or other body.

It may be mentioned here that the DRDA scheme was introduced on April 1, 1991.The centre bears 75 per cent of the pay of staff and administrative expenses, while the state provides for around 25 per cent.

However, during 2008-09, the centre raised its share to 90 per cent for the north eastern states.

For the union territories, the central's share is 100 per cent.

The scheme was launched with the aim of bring about quality development in the districts.

Under this scheme, the central releases its share of the funds to DRDA, after which the Agency takes up different anti-poverty programmes in rural areas under the Ministry of Rural Development.

The main function of DRDA is to formulate policies and guidelines for specific central schemes and sanction funds for administrative schemes.

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