With a view to ensuring transparency and efficacy in the implementation of Rural Development Programmes, the Ministry has prepared a panel of 179 National Level Monitors involving Senior Level Ex-Servicemen and Retired Civil Servants to Monitor the policy and implementation environments of the programmes at grass root level. The National Level Monitors shall also be required to look into various specific complaints regarding implementation of programmes, as and when required by this Ministry. All the National Level Monitors have been asked to visit in districts and submit report by the end of September, 2003.

District Level Monitoring 

A new initiative of District Level Monitoring of the Rural Development Programmes in 128 Districts in 26 States through locally based independent external agencies has been taken up on a pilot basis. This mechanism enables the Ministry to obtain not only monthly physical and financial progress reports from different Implementing Agencies but also generates periodic qualitative reports on the policy and implementation environment for the programmes in the districts and verification of physical achievement under different programmes. Such close monitoring helps in the improving quality of implementation of the programmes. 

Evaluation Mechanisms

 In order to assess impacts of the Rural Development Programmes, the Ministry of Rural Development has undertakes Concurrent Evaluation, Impact Assessment Studies and Quick Evaluations from time to time, through reputed and independent Research Institutions/Organisations. The main objectives of these studies are to evaluate the performance of the Schemes at the field level, and to assess the impact of the programmes and to identify the problems in course of implementation so as to make mid-course corrective measures, wherever necessary.