Government to continue with the PEO for evaluation of all flagship projects

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to continue with the Programme Evaluation Organisation (PEO) for evaluation of all flagship projects of the government, ending confusion over the existence of the PEO because of the presence of another, similar body.

Acommittee of secretaries set up to decide on the role of the PEO and the recently set up Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) has proposed to strengthen the PEO after all ministries reposed faith in it. The panel said the IEO hasn’t taken off as yet and has no credible report in its name.

The decision is expected to be notified soon and will put to rest the controversy over whether PEO officials should work for the IEO following an order from Montek Singh Ahulwalia, the former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. That decision on May 16, just before Ahulwalia’s term ended at the commission, mandated regional evaluation officers of the PEO to work for the IEO that Ahluwalia had pushed for.

“All ministries are of the view that the new institution of the IEO has no in-house expertise to carry on the onground evaluations of the flagship schemes. Hence, they feel that the new government should retain the decade-old PEOs,” a senior government official told ET on condition of anonymity.

According to the official, the decision was taken after several rounds of discussion. It aims to strengthen the PEOs so that their evaluations are more target-oriented and the suggestions made by them are implemented by ministries.