Minutes of the meeting of the Screening Committee held on 26-27th October 2009 to consider new project proposals under the Scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (DRUGS) Abuse
A meeting of the Screening Committee was held on 26-27th Oct., 2009, under the Chairpersonship of Smt. Purnima Singh, Joint Secretary (SD) to consider the proposals of NGOs received through State Governments/Union Territories for setting up new projects under the Scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse. Shri M. M. Sabharwal, Smt. Santhi Ranganathan and Shri Vivekananda, Deputy Secretary (IFD), members of the Committee, were present in the meeting.
2. At the outset, the Committee members were briefed about the revised Scheme of Drug Abuse Prevention, which came into effect from 01.10.2008. The Committee was also informed about the budget allocation for 2009-10 under the Scheme, notional allocation fixed for the States/UTs within the budgetary outlay, committed liability for funding existing ongoing projects, number of new proposals already recommended by the Screening Committee in 2008-09 but grants are yet to be released during 2009-10 and number of proposals received after 14.11.2008 (the last Screening Committee had already considered project proposals received up to 14.11.2008) up to the date of meeting of the Screening Committee. In this connection, the Committee was informed that as per the policy decision in the Ministry's Office Order No.1-31/2006-Cdn., dated 05.09.2008, recommendations of the State GIA committee for new projects remain valid for the financial year following the year in which they were received and recommendations of the Screening Committee within the Ministry remain valid for one year following the year in which they are recommended. The Committee was also informed that as per the Scheme, recommendations of the State/UT Grants-in Aid Committee along with inspection reports for the current year are required each and every year for releasing of grant to any project proposal under the Scheme.
3. Keeping the above in view, the Committee decided to consider fresh proposals for 2009-10 and fresh proposals for the year 2008-09 received after 14.11.2008 in which recommendations of the State/UT Governments with inspection reports and complete project proposal has been received.
4. The committee decided to give priority to those proposals from un-served States, followed by un-served districts; then the proposals from districts where there is only one on-going centre being funded, in that order, subject to fulfillment of other requirements of the scheme and availability of funds. The Committee also decided to give priority to the innovative projects and proposals from States where there is high incidence of drug abuse is reported.
5. The Committee, during examination of the proposals observed a large number of proposals recommended by the State Government incomplete in many respect and therefore, found it not possible for consideration. The Committee, therefore, advised to return the incomplete proposals to the respective State Governments.
