"The matter will be presented before the Union Cabinet for discussion on November 22 here," sources said.
In the proposal drafted for the meeting, the Ministry has proposed setting up a Concurrent Evaluation Office (CEO) which will evaluate the schemes through a dedicated Concurrent Evaluation Network (CENET).
The Rural Development Ministry has prepared and finalised the structure and functioning of the CEO for conducting business and has circulated a draft note to the concerned Ministries and departments.
"The CEO would establish and manage CENET, which will consist of a panel of reputed independent researchers and institutions with requisite capabilities to undertake concurrent evaluations," the sources said.
The Ministry has also proposed redrawing the panel after monitoring its effectiveness.
The decision has been taken by the Ministry keeping in mind the manifold increase in its budget over the last decade, without any commensurate increase in required manpower for conducting monitoring and concurrent evaluations of programs.
"Even as the budget and coverage of various programmes has increased manifold over the decade, there has been no commensurate increase in the required manpower for 'Monitoring and Concurrent Evaluation' for the Ministry