The BJP’s parliamentary party has been asked to ensure that its participation in the newly-announced District Infrastructure Scheme Advisory Committees (DISHA), set up to monitor Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) under the aegis of the Rural Development Ministry, is effective.
The project is headed by local members of Parliament.
At the meeting of party MPs which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, Rural Development Minister Narendra Tomar briefed members about the committee, saying his Ministry had made mandatory a quarterly meeting of the committee.
DISHA’s first meetings are expected on August 23.
Party sources said the panels, which would also have State government officials on board, are likely to meet in February, April, August and December.
Though local vigilance committees have been functioning earlier as well, sources said the new panels would ensure greater accountability since its meetings have been made mandatory.
It has been learnt that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also spoke about the law, cleared by the Cabinet, which will help banks that are in debt in recoveries and also improve ease of doing business.
Amending the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi) Act is also among the law’s objectives.
ParliamentaryAffairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government was keen on the passage of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill and Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill soon.
Mr. Kumar said five Bills in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha, which has seen frequent disruptions, had been passed so far in the ongoing monsoon session, appealing to the Opposition in the Upper House to participate in the discussion.
“We will do all the official business [as listed]. We had considered 16 Bills for the session, and, four new Bills have also been brought in,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.
