Govt to depute national level monitors to oversee livestock schemes' implementation

• The Indian government will deploy National Level Monitors (NLM) to oversee the implementation of livestock schemes.
• The monitored schemes include National Livestock Mission, Rashtriya Gokul Mission among others.

Monitoring Types

NLMs will conduct two types of monitoring viz. regular and special

• Objectives of monitoring include ensuring program implementation
  • aligns with Ministry guidelines
  • follows prescribed processes
  • gathers feedback from villagers
  • maintains transparency in beneficiary selection
  • validates the distribution of incentives and data uploads.
• NLMs may be deployed to verify facts or conduct preliminary inquiries in response to serious complaints from people's representatives and farmers regarding fund misutilization or irregularities.

Current Monitoring Methods

• Currently, the department monitors scheme implementation with participating states through
  • progress reports
  • management information systems
  • review meetings
  • video conferencing sessions

Importance of Monitoring

• The government's focus on monitoring such schemes is significant due to the sector's rising contribution to the economy.
• NLMs aim to provide unbiased and objective monitoring, with individual NLMs selected from retired Civil/Defence Services Officers and academia.

Economic Contribution of the Livestock Sector

• The livestock sector's contribution to agriculture output has increased from 24.32% in 2014-2015 to 30.87% in 2020-21.
• The livestock sector has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 7.93% from 2014-15 to 2020-21.
• The value of the livestock sector's output is significant, with milk alone surpassing the combined value of paddy and wheat.

Prelims Takeaway

• National Level Monitors
• National Livestock Mission
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission