Rules and Regulations | National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), Government of India

a. The Rules and Regulations be called the Rules of National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
b. These Rules shall come into force from the date on which the General Body of Agency, namely the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, a registered Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 notifies them.

a. `Agency’ means the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
b. `General Body’ means the General Body of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
c. `Chairperson’ means the Chairperson of the General Body of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency i.e. Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Union of India.
d. ‘Co-Chairperson’ means the Co-Chairperson of the General Body of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency i.e. Hon’ble Minister of State of Rural Development, Union of India.
e. `Vice Chairperson’ means the Vice Chairperson of the General Body of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency i.e. Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Union of India.
f. `Director General’ means the Director General of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency i.e. AS/JS (RC), Ministry of Rural Development, Union of India
g. `Additional Director General’ means the Additional Director General of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency i.e. AS/JS/DDG (RH), Ministry of Rural Development, Union of India
h. `Year’ means, unless the context otherwise requires, the financial year of the Government of India.

3. The registered office of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency shall be situated at 5TH Floor, 15-NBCC Tower, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066.

4. The number of Members of the Agency shall not exceed 21. The Members of the Agency shall be nominated by the Chairperson. The membership of the Agency will be from the following:-

a. Representatives of Central, State Governments or any other Government authority as Ex-officio Members.
b. Registered bodies, Institutions engaged in any activity connected with Rural Infrastructure or any of the objectives of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
c. Persons possessing special expertise, ability or experience relevant to the furtherance of the objectives of the Agency. The representation may be by name or designation, as may be deemed appropriate.

5. Where a person becomes a Member of the Agency by virtue of the office or appointment which he/she holds, his/her Membership of the Agency shall stand terminated when he/she ceases to hold that office or appointment.

6. Membership of Members, other than Ex-Officio Members, shall stand terminated on the happening of any of the following events:-

a. on the expiry of the period of Membership for which nominated;
b. death, resignation, insolvency, lunacy or conviction for a criminal offense involving moral turpitude;
c. when a Member does not attend three consecutive meetings of the General Body without proper leave of absence.

a. Subject to the other provisions, a Member of the Agency, other than Ex-Officio Members, shall hold office for a period of two years from the date of his /her nomination and shall be eligible for re-nomination by the Chairperson.
b. If a casual vacancy exists during the two year period, such vacancy shall be filled in like manner as the original vacancy and the admitted Member shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term.

8. When a Member desires to resign his/her membership of the Agency, he/she shall forward his/her letter of resignation to the Chairperson.

9. The Agency shall function notwithstanding any vacancy in any of its bodies and no act, direction or proceeding of the Agency shall be invalid merely by reason of such vacancy or any defect in the appointment of any of its Members.

Authorities of the Agency

10. The following shall be the authorities of the Agency:

I. General Body
II. Chairperson
III. Co-Chairperson
IV. Vice-Chairperson
V. Executive Committee
VI. Director General
VII. Additional Director General
VIII. Such other officers of the Agency as the General Body may from time to time appoint.

I. General Body

11. There shall be a General Body of the Agency and it shall be composed of all the Members of the Agency.

12. The General Body shall meet normally once in 6 months but at least once every year, on such date, time and place as may be determined by the Chairperson. It shall also be open to the Chairperson to call for an Extraordinary Meeting.

13.

a. All Meetings of the General Body shall be called by Notice in writing by and under the hand of the Director General.
b. Every Notice calling a Meeting of the General Body shall state the date, time and place of the Meeting and shall be delivered or sent by post to every Member of the Agency normally l5 clear days before the day appointed for the Meeting.
c. Any inadvertent omission to give notice to or the non-receipt or late receipt of notice by any Members shall not invalidate the proceedings of the Meetings and proof that the envelope containing such notices was properly addressed and duly posted will be sufficient proof of such notice.

14. The General Body shall have following powers and functions, namely to:

a. give overall Policy Guidelines and directions for efficient functioning of the Agency;
b. approve the Annual Plan of Action including the Annual Budget for functioning of the Agency;
c. consider the Balance Sheet and Audited Accounts for the previous financial year;
d. add and amend the Rules of the Agency;
e. frame, bye-laws not inconsistent with these Rules, for the regulation of the business of the Agency;
f. monitor the functioning of the Agency;
g. approve of the Annual Report of the Agency;
h. determine the staff strength and the terms and conditions of service of personnel to be appointed by the Agency;
i. appoint the Principal Technical Agencies and determine the tasks to be performed by them;
j. delegate such of its powers to other authorities of the Agency as it may consider necessary and proper;

II. Chairperson

15.

a. The Union Minister in-charge of the Ministry/Department dealing with the Agency shall be the Ex-Officio Chairperson of the Agency.
b. In case the votes for and against a particular issue are equal, the Chairperson shall exercise his casting vote.
c. The Chairperson shall be entitled to invite any other person to attend the Meetings of the Agency but such person(s) shall have no power of voting.
d. The Chairperson shall nominate Members to the General Body.
e. The Chairperson shall exercise the powers of the General Body of the Agency in the interregnum between two Meetings of the General Body. All decisions taken by the Chairperson, acting in such capacity, shall be placed in the next meeting of the General Body for ratification.
f. The Chairperson may, in writing, delegate such of the Powers, as he may consider necessary, to the Co- Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson or the Director General/ Additional Director General.

III. Co-Chairperson

16.

a. The Minister of State in-charge of the Ministry/Department dealing with the Agency shall be the Ex-Officio Co- Chairperson of the Agency.
b. The Chairperson shall preside over the Meetings of the General Body. In his absence the Co-Chairperson shall preside over the Meetings.

IV. Vice Chairperson

17.

a. The Secretary in-charge of the Ministry/Department dealing with the Agency shall be the Ex-Officio Vice Chairperson of the Agency.
b. In the absence of chairperson and Co- Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall preside over the Meetings of the General Body.
c. The Vice Chairperson shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as Chairperson/Co- Chairperson may delegate to him.

V. Executive Committee

18. There shall be one Executive Committee having two Sub-Committees of the Agency and shall be dealing with following divisions:

a. Rural Roads, and
b. Rural Housing

i. Director General will be Ex-Officio Chairperson of the Executive Committee.
ii. Additional Director General will be a member of the Executive Committee. He/She shall chair all the meetings of the Executive Committee in absence of the Director General.
iii. Five Members to be appointed by the Chairperson of the General Body, of which one shall be Finance Member (IFD, MoRD) and the remaining four, shall be from among the Principal Technical Agencies, two for Rural Roads and two for Rural Housing and they will not be the members of sub-committees as specified below. Quorum of the Executive Committee shall be counted with the outside members only.
iv. Such officials of the Agency, not exceeding four i.e. two Directors from Rural Roads and two Directors from Rural Housing of NRIDA, to be nominated by the Chairperson of the General Body.

The Sub-Committees shall comprise of the following Members:

i. Director General will be Chairperson in case of sub-committee for Rural Roads.
ii. Additional Director General will be Chairperson in case of sub-committee for Rural Housing.
iii. Three Members to be appointed by the Chairperson of the General Body in respect of each sub-committee, of which one shall be Finance Member (IFD, MoRD) and the remaining two each, shall be from among the Principal Technical Agencies for Rural Roads and Rural Housing. The Finance Member may be common in both the sub committees.
iv. All Directors of the Agency will be members in respective sub-committees.

19. The Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee shall meet as often as is necessary but at least once in two months and the Executive Committee shall meet as often as is necessary but at least once in three months.

20.

a. All meetings of the Executive Committee i.e. comprising of members as specified above may be convened by the Director General or in his/her absence by Additional Director General by issuing a notice in writing stating the date, time and place of the meeting normally seven clear days before the day appointed for the meeting.
b. All meetings of the Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee shall be called by notice in writing by and under the hand of the Director General in case of Rural Roads and Additional Director General in case of Rural Housing.
c. Every notice calling a meeting of the Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee shall state the date, time and place of the meeting of the sub-committees normally seven clear days before the day appointed for the Meeting.
d. The Director General, NRIDA may in special circumstances, call a meeting of the Executive Committee or the both Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee at a notice of shorter period than seven days.
e. Any inadvertent omission to give notice or the non-receipt or late receipt of notice by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of the meeting.

21. The powers and functions of the Executive Committee shall be as follows:

a. Subject to the general control and supervision of the General Body, the Executive Committee shall generally pursue and carry out objectives of the Agency as set forth in the Memorandum of Association in respect of Rural Roads and Rural Housing.
b. The Executive Committee shall exercise all executive and financial powers of the Agency, subject to such directions as may be issued by the Government of India and General Body from time to time.
c. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Executive Committee shall have the powers to:
i. Prepare and execute detailed plans and programmes for the furtherance of the objectives of the Agency.
ii. To consider the annual and supplementary budgets placed before it and pass them with such modifications as may be deemed necessary, for submission to the General Body.
iii. Prepare Annual Report and Accounts of the Society for the consideration of the General Body.
iv. Appoint staff as per strength sanctioned by the General Body.
v. Appoint the State Technical Agencies and determine the tasks to be performed by them.
vi. To Monitor the progress of road works and rural housing and expenditure incurred therefor by the States/Union Territories under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin.
vii. To appoint Independent Monitors to inspect and report on the Quality of road works and rural housing.
viii. To take up research activities relating to rural roads and rural housing, including execution of pilot projects by appropriate Technical Institutions.
ix. To engage the services of Technical Experts as and when necessary.
x. To arrange suitable Training Programmes for officers of the Ministry as well as the State Governments and Union Territories concerned with the implementation of the Rural Roads and Rural Housing Programme in reputed institutions.
xi. Receive and to have custody of the funds of the Society and manage the property of the Society.
xii. Incur expenditure, subject to the provisions of the approved budget.
xiii. Enter for and on behalf of the Agency, into Agreements.
xiv. Lay down terms and conditions governing scholarships, deputations, consultancy, grants-in-aid, research schemes and projects.
xv. Enter into arrangements with the Government of India and, through the Government with foreign and international agencies and organizations, the State Government and other Public or Private bodies, or organizations or individuals, provided that nothing shall be inconsistent with the objectives of the Society or the policy of the Government of India.
xvi. Appoint sub-committees and panels consisting of persons who may or may not be the Members or employees of the Agency to deal with any matter and make recommendations thereon.
xvii. Impose and recover fee and charges for the services rendered by the Agency.
xviii. Make deposits in Public Sector Banks.
xix. Consider any other matter deemed fit by the General Body/ Chairperson/Co- Chairperson.
d. The Executive Committee may delegate any of its powers to the Director General or any officer of the Agency.
e. Both the Sub-Committees of Executive Committee will recommend the aforesaid actions to the Executive Committee for their ratification/approval.

VI. Director General

22.

a. The AS/JS (RC) in Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India dealing with Rural Connectivity shall be Ex-Officio Director General of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
b. He/She shall chair all the Meetings of the Executive Committee.

23.

a. The Director General shall see that affairs of the Agency are run efficiently and in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations and bye-laws of the Agency.
b. The Director General shall preside over the Meetings of the Executive Committee of NRIDA and Sub-Committee of Executive Committee for Rural Roads.
c. The Director General may call a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time in respect of NRIDA and Sub-Committee of Executive Committee for Rural Roads.
d. The Director General shall exercise such financial powers as are delegated by the Executive Committee of NRIDA.
e. The Director General shall be the Appointing Authority for all the posts sanctioned by the General Body, on deputation, contract or part-time basis to the Agency.
f. The Director General shall be entitled to invite any other persons to attend the Meeting of the Executive Committee of NRIDA as well as Sub-Committee of Executive Committee for Rural Roads.
g. The Director General in respect of NRIDA shall exercise the powers of the Executive Committee of the Agency in the interregnum between two Meetings of the Executive Committee. All decisions taken by the Director General, acting in such capacity shall be placed in the next Meeting of the Executive Committee for ratification.
h. The Director General may, in writing, delegate such of the powers, as he/she may consider necessary, to any officer of the Agency.
i. The Director General shall be the administrative and financial head of NRIDA.
j. In absence of Additional Director General, the Director General may preside over the Sub-Committee of Executive Committee for Rural Housing.

VII. Additional Director General

24.

a. The AS/JS/DDG (RH) in Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India dealing with Rural Housing shall be Ex-Officio Additional Director General of the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency.
b. He/she shall chair all the meetings of the Sub-Committee dealing with Rural Housing of the Executive Committee.
c. He/she shall chair all the meetings of the Executive Committee and Sub-Committee dealing with Rural Roads of the Executive Committee in absence of the Director General.
d. He/ She as a member of the Executive Committee will participate in the meetings of the Executive Committee.

25.

a. The Additional Director General shall see that affairs of the Agency in respect of Rural Housing are run efficiently and in accordance with the provisions of the Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations and bye-laws of the Agency.
b. The Additional Director General may call a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time in the eventuality when there is no Director General.
c. The Additional Director General shall exercise such financial powers as are delegated by the Sub-Committee dealing with Rural Housing of the Executive Committee.
d. The Additional Director General shall be entitled to invite any other persons to attend the Meeting of the Executive Committee of NRIDA as well as Sub-Committee of Executive Committee for Rural Housing.
e. The Additional Director General may, in writing, delegate such of the powers, as he/she may consider necessary, to any officer of the Agency in respect of Rural Housing.
f. The Director General shall be the Appointing Authority for all the posts sanctioned by the General Body, on deputation, contract or part-time basis to the Agency. However, in respect of Rural Housing, the same shall be done at the recommendation of the Additional Director General. The Additional Director General, in exigencies, may appoint on deputation, contract or part time basis on all posts sanctioned by the General Body in respect of Rural Housing, which will be ratified in the ensuing Executive Committee Meeting.

Funds of the Agency

26. The funds of the Agency shall consist in two parts as following:

I. Rural Roads

a. Grants made by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India;
b. Fees and charges imposed by the Agency for services rendered by it;
c. Income from Deposits;
d. Income and receipts from other sources;
e. Contribution from multilateral agencies;
f. Contribution from companies under CSR; and
g. Such other funds as may be received by the Agency.

II. Rural Housing

a. Grants made by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India;
b. Loans from NABARD and/or any other financial institution;
c. Contribution from multilateral agencies;
d. Contribution from companies under CSR;
e. Fees and charges imposed by the Agency for services rendered by it;
f. Income from Deposits;
g. Income and receipts from other sources; and
h. Such other funds as may be received by the Agency.

27. The bankers of the Agency shall be any Public Sector Bank.

Audit of Accounts

28.

i. The Agency shall cause regular accounts to be kept of its money. The Accounts shall be maintained in such form as may be applicable to Central Autonomous Bodies.
ii. The Accounts of the Agency shall be audited annually by a Chartered Accountant and the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.
iii. The Chartered Accountant or the Auditor shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other necessary documents and papers.
iv. The results of Audit shall be communicated by the Auditor to the General Body of the Agency, who shall submit a copy of the Audit Report along with its observations to the Ministry/Department of the Government of India, dealing with the Agency. The Auditor shall also forward a copy of the report directly to the Ministry/Department of the Government of India dealing with the Agency.

Annual Report

29. The Annual Report of the working of the Agency and all work undertaken during the year, together with Balance Sheet and Audited Accounts, shall be prepared by the Executive Committee for information of the General Body and the Ministry of Rural Development. A draft of the Annual Report along with the Audited Accounts of the Agency, and the Auditor’s Report thereon, shall be placed before the General Body in its Annual Meeting.

Assets

30. The assets of National Rural Roads Development Agency i.e. office, building and other movable assets shall hereafter become the assets of National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency and in case division of NRIDA in two divisions i.e. Rural Roads/Connectivity and Rural Housing, the present assets of NRIDA shall become the assets of the Rural Roads/Connectivity.

Amendments

31. With prior approval of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the Agency may alter, extend or abridge the purpose for which it is established, or to amalgamate the Agency either wholly or partly with any other Agency in accordance with the provisions of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, as applicable to Delhi.

32. The Rules of the Agency may at any time be altered by a Resolution passed by a majority of the Members of the General Body, present and voting, at a Meeting of the General Body convened for the purpose.

33. The Agency may, with prior approval of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, change its name by a resolution passed by majority of the members of the General Body, present and voting, at a Meeting of the General Body convened for the purpose.

34. As and when there is any change in the nomenclature of the Ministry/Ministries, Department(s), Institution(s) and designation(s) mentioned in the Rules, such change(s) shall automatically stand incorporated in these Rules and it shall not be treated as an amendment of the Rules under Rule 32 above.

35. If, on the winding up or dissolution of the Agency, there shall remain, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to, or distributed among the Members of the Agency or any of them, but shall accrue to the Government of India by escheat.

Miscellaneous

36. Every officer of the Agency shall be indemnified out of the funds of the Agency against all losses and expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties except such as shall happen through his/her own neglect, wilful act or default and such one shall be answerable only for his/her own acts, neglect or defaults and not for those of any other person.

37. Once in every year a list of Members of the General Body shall be filed with the Registrar of Societies as required under Section 4 of the Societies Registration Act, l860.

38. The Agency may sue or be sued in the name of the Director (F&A), NRIDA as per provisions laid down under Section 6 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

39. All the provisions of the Societies Registration Act, l860 (Punjab Amendment Act, l957) as extended to the Union Territory of Delhi will apply to this Agency.

40. In case, if necessary, the Agency can be dissolved as per the provisions laid down under Section 13 and 14 of the Societies Registration Act, l860.

Certified that this is the correct copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Society.