Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) addresses the holding of District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings, particularly in West Bengal. Guidelines exist mandating quarterly district-level and biannual state-level meetings, with reporting through a dedicated portal. Despite these guidelines, no DISHA meetings have been convened in West Bengal since 2019-20. The MoRD is working to ensure regular meetings are convened.
Key Points / Main Content:
DISHA Guidelines:
* MoRD has comprehensive DISHA guidelines available on its website (disha.gov.in/guidelines), applicable to all States/UTs, including West Bengal.
* Guidelines define the objectives, composition, scope, and mandated number of DISHA Committee meetings.
Meeting Frequency:
* District Level DISHA Committee meetings should be held at least once every quarter, with sufficient notice to members. At least 4 meetings should be held every year.
* The chairperson can convene more than four meetings per year.
* State Level DISHA Committee meetings should be held at least once every six months, with sufficient notice to members.
Reporting:
* A Meeting Reporting Portal (erp.disha.gov.in) exists for State and District Level DISHA meetings.
* District Administrations are responsible for uploading minutes and Action Taken Reports (ATR) of DISHA meetings onto the portal.
West Bengal Situation:
* No DISHA meeting has been convened in any district of West Bengal, including Purulia, since 2019-20.
MoRD Actions:
* MoRD is working to ensure regular DISHA meetings for effective governance and district development.
* All States/UTs have been urged to ensure District Level DISHA meetings are held as per DISHA guidelines.
* Honorable Members of Parliament have been requested to hold DISHA meetings regularly in their respective districts.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/Union Territories (UTs)
*Impact:* Required to adhere to DISHA guidelines for convening meetings and reporting.
*Action Required:* Instruct relevant Member Secretaries (District Collectors, Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners) to ensure District Level DISHA meetings are held per guidelines.
District Administrations:
*Impact:* Responsible for organizing, conducting, and reporting DISHA meetings.
*Action Required:* Convene DISHA meetings quarterly, provide sufficient notice to members, and upload minutes and ATR to the Meeting Reporting Portal.
Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs):
*Impact:* Expected to participate in DISHA meetings and contribute to district development.
*Action Required:* Attend DISHA meetings and actively engage in discussions and decision-making.
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD):
*Impact:* Responsible for overseeing the implementation of DISHA guidelines and ensuring regular meetings.
*Action Required:* Continue to urge States/UTs to comply with DISHA guidelines and take necessary actions to ensure regular meetings are held.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs and policies.
District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee DISHA: A committee established to coordinate and monitor development programs at the district level in India.
West Bengal: A state in eastern India where DISHA meetings are reportedly not being conducted regularly.
Purulia district: A district in West Bengal where DISHA meetings have not been convened since 2019-2020.
SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN: Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development
Meeting Reporting Portal: An online platform (https:erp.disha.gov.in) used for reporting and tracking DISHA meetings at the state and district levels.
District Collectors: The administrative head of a district in India, responsible for implementing government policies and programs.
Members of Parliament: Elected representatives who are requested to hold DISHA meetings in their respective districts on regular basis.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2596
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
DISHA COMMITTEE MEETINGS
2596. Shri Jyotirmay Singh Mahato:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Union Government has issued any guidelines
regarding the holding of District Development Coordination and
Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meetings in the State of West
Bengal, including the mandated frequency of such meetings;
(b) whether the Ministry has received regular reports on the
conduct of DISHA Committee meetings from various districts in
the country, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that in the State of West Bengal, including
in the district of Purulia, DISHA meetings are either not being
conducted at all or are conducted very irregularly, if so, the
reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Ministry is aware that despite clear guidelines, not
a single district in West Bengal Conducts DISHA Meeting; and
(e) the action by the Ministry to take in cases where the DM/DC,
who serves as the Member Secretary of the DISHA Committee,
fails to convene the meeting within the stipulated time frame?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): For effective implementation of District Development
Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD) has formulated comprehensive guidelines and
uploaded on MoRD’s website, <disha.gov.in/guidelines>which inter-
alia define the objectives, composition, scope and the mandated
number of DISHA Committee meetings. The provisions of the DISHA
guidelines are applicable to all the States/ UTs including West
Bengal. As per DISHA guidelines, meetings of District Level DISHA
Committee should be held at least once in every quarter, after
Page 1 of 2giving sufficient notice to the Hon’ble MPs/MLAs and all other
Members of the DISHA Committee. During a year at least 4 meetings
are to be organized. However, if chairperson so desires, number of
meetings to be convened can be more than four. Similarly,
meetings of the State Level DISHA Committee should be held at
least once in every six months, after giving sufficient notice to the
Hon’ble MPs/MLAs and all the other Members.
(b): In order to support the operations of DISHA Committees, a
‘Meeting Reporting Portal’ (https://erp.disha.gov.in) has been
developed for State and District Level DISHA meetings. The Minutes
and ATR of the DISHA Meetings are uploaded by the District
Administration concerned on the ‘Meeting Reporting Portal’.
(c) to (e): As per records, no DISHA meeting has been convened in
any district of West Bengal State including Purulia district since
2019-20.
Timely convening of the DISHA meeting is crucial for ensuring
effective governance and promoting the holistic development of the
districts. Recognizing the critical importance of DISHA, Ministry of
Rural Development (MoRD) is persistently working to ensure that
these meetings are convened on a regular basis. All States/ UTs
have been urged to take necessary actions and instruct the relevant
Member Secretaries (District Collectors, Magistrates, Deputy
Commissioners) to ensure that District Level DISHA meetings are
held as per DISHA guidelines. The Hon’ble Members of Parliament
have also been requested from time to time to hold DISHA meetings
in their respective districts on regular basis.
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