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16:26 IST
MAJOR DECISIONS AND INITIATIVES
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
The UPA Government has taken several new initiatives to fulfil its commitment of giving a “new deal for rural India” for the welfare of farmers and people living in rural areas.
Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
The allocation for cash component of Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) has been enhanced from Rs.4125 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.4500 crore during 2004-05. For 2005-06, this has been further enhanced to Rs.5500 crore. The guidelines for implementation of the scheme have been streamlined. In States with large-sized Gram Panchayats, 22.5 per cent of the allocation of the Gram Panchayats (instead of funds allocated to Intermediate and District Panchayats) has been permitted to be earmarked for works/activities exclusively for the benefit of households belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The process of social audit and vigilance of the works taken up under SGRY has been strengthened through formation of Village-level Monitoring Committees. About 63 crore mandays of employment were generated under SGRY from April 2004 to January 2005 while 25.92 lakh MTs of foodgrains were provided free of cost to the calamity-affected States in 2004-05 for relief works.
National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP)
NFFWP was launched in 150 most backward districts of the country from November 14, 2004. About 20 lakh MT of foodgrains and Rs.2020 crore were allocated for the programme during 2004-05. For 2005-06, outlay for the programmes has been raised to 50 lakh MT of foodgrains and Rs.4500 crore towards cash component.
A National Employment Guarantee Bill was also introduced in Lok Sabha on December 21, 2004 and currently it is under consideration of the Standing Committee on Rural Development.
Strengthening of State Institutes of Rural Development
The achievements under the scheme for establishment/strengthening of State Institutes of Rural Development and Extension Training Centres being implemented by the Training Division of the Ministry during the period from May 2004 to May 2005 include establishment of a new State Institute of Rural Development in the State of Bihar and Mohali in Punjab. The construction of a new building for J&K Institute of Rural Development at the cost of Rs.378 lakh has also been approved by the Ministry while an amount of Rs.102 lakh has also been released as the first instalment towards the cost of construction for a new building of the State Institute of Rural Development in Maharashtra.
CAPART
Regional Committees were empowered to sanction Rural Development projects up to an outlay of Rs. 25 lakh. As part of the capacity building of NGOs, over 50 workshops/training programmes were organised which benefitted 1500 NGOs. 577 projects involving an amount of Rs.38 crore were sanctioned to 546 NGOs. 17 Gramshree Melas were organised at various State Capitals to provide marketing outlets and to popularise the products of rural artisans. SARAS 2004 – India International Trade Fair was also organised at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
The guidelines were revised in November 2004 to take into account provision of full farm to market connectivity and up-gradation of associated “through routes” included along with new connectivity. For developing a long term perspective on rural roads, a vision document with 20 year horizon is in final stage of preparation in coordination with Indian Roads Congress. For additional resource generation through funding from external multilateral funding agencies a loan of Rs. 2000 crore was signed in August 2004 with the World Bank for rural roads projects in four States (Jharkhand, Rajasthan, H.P. and U.P.). Another loan of Rs.2000 crore was signed in November, 2004 with the Asian Development Bank for Rural Roads projects in two States (MP and Chhattisgarh). Discussions were started with the Asian Development Bank for a 2nd loan of Rs. 2000 crore for Rural Roads projects in three States (West Bengal, Assam and Orissa). A further request to initiate appraisal for a second World Bank loan of Rs.2500 crore has also been made for rural roads project. Under PMGSY, proposals consisting of 39000 road works have been cleared by the Government up to March, 2005 and an amount of Rs. 10795.25 crore has been released. On completion of these proposals, it is estimated that a length of 1.3 lakh km of rural roads will be constructed and will provide connectivity to 38000 habitations.
Bharat Nirman
In order to achieve the goal set for rural roads under Bharat Nirman and to develop a comprehensive and detailed long term perspective on rural roads, a vision document titled “Rural Roads Development – Vision 2025” is in final stage of preparation through Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and is expected to be released by July 2005.
PMGSY in North East
For generating additional resources for the PMGSY, discussions have been initiated with the Asian Development Bank for a 2nd loan of Rs. 2000 crore for Rural Roads projects in three States including Assam (the others being W.Bengal and Orissa). In order to overcome the inadequacy of State execution agency in Tripura, the Ministry has signed an MoU with NBCC and the Government of Tripura in April 2004 for execution of PMGSY works in West Tripura District by NBCC in accordance with the PMGSY guidelines in force. For South Tripura district similar arrangement will be there with NBCC. In respect of North Eastern States, proposals consisting of 3000 road works has been cleared up to March, 2005 and an amount of Rs.1130 crore has been released. On completion of these proposals, in the North Eastern States, a length of 10000 km of rural roads will be constructed to provide connectivity to 3300 habitations.
Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Programme
The emphasis of UPA Government on Water and Sanitation Sector is reflected through increase in allocation for rural drinking water supply and sanitation in the year 2005-2006 to Rs. 4,750 crore, which is 43.93 per cent more than that in the budget of 2004-2005, which was Rs. 3,300 crore.
During the year 2004-05, the Government took major steps for coverage of habitations hither to not covered. Now, about 95.34 per cent habitations numbering 13,56,031 are fully covered with drinking water supply. The partially covered habitations are 4.28 per cent numbering 60,884.
Under sector reform pilot project 76,816 schemes have been completed so far. Under Swajaldhara programme 13,125 schemes were taken up in 441 districts of 26 States and one UT. Out of these schemes, 2,573 schemes have been completed so far.
A community-based rural drinking water quality monitoring and surveillance programme has been pilot-tested in four districts of the country. The programme envisages involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and school and college laboratories in routine water quality monitoring linked to District, State and National level water quality laboratories under the technical supervision and guidance of the State level Referral Institutions and the National Level Referral Institute. The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will act as the National Level Referral Institute. The modalities for launching the programme throughout the country are being worked out in consultation with the National Level Referral Institute.
For emergent situations like drought, flood or other natural calamities, the budget has been enhanced from Rs. 136 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 202.50 crore in 2005-06, which is 47.9 per cent more. For the Tsunami affected areas Rs. 34.62 crore were released in 2004-05.
Keeping its commitment for Rural Sanitation the UPA Government has enhanced the fund allocation from Rs. 400 crore to Rs. 700 crore. This programme envisages achieving sanitation coverage in all the districts of the country. Under Total Sanitation Campaign 121.31 Lakh individual household toilets, 4,774 sanitary complexes, 1.37 lakh school toilet blocks, 23, 326 Anganwadi toilets and 3,459 Rural Sanitary Marts have been constructed so far.
For motivating PRIs, Nirmal Gram Puraskar, a community based incentive scheme for best performing PRIs was introduced and 39 PRIs from all over India have received prizes from the President in February 2005.
For monitoring and evaluation of the ongoing programme web-based monitoring tools were developed. The web site of Department of Drinking Water Supply was modified and strengthened. For necessary programme support, Communication and Capacity Development Units (CCDU) guidelines along with guidelines for Key Resource Centre (KRC) were framed.
Watershed Programmes
The department of Land Resources is implementing three major programmes namely Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programmes (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) for development/ treatment of wastelands/degraded lands on watershed basis. The programme-wise new projects sanctioned and funds released during 2004-2005 for new as well as on-going projects are:
Schemes
No. of Projects
sanctioned
Area covered
(in lakh ha.)
Funds released
(Central Share)
(Rs. in crore)
IWDP
221
11.18
344.42
DPAP
2550
12.75
299.99
DDP
160
8.00
214.99
TOTAL
4371
31.93
859.40
Guidelines for Hariyali for implementation of Watershed Projects
A new initiative called “Hariyali” was taken up with an objective of empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) both financially and administratively in implementation of Watershed Development Programmes in the country (2003-04). An addendum to the guidelines for Hariyali (2003) was issued on November 29, 2004 incorporating provisions for dove-tailing watershed development programmes augmenting supply source for drinking water for accomplishing the national norm prescribing 40 ltrs. of safe water per head per day available within 100 metres of every household. Under the provisions, a drinking water committee is to be constituted in each gram Panchayat to oversee watershed activities concerning drinking water security, a water action plan and monitoring and review by incorporating a separate section regarding drinking water status in the quarterly progress report.
Computerization of Land Records
A Scheme for Computerization of Land Records was launched in 1988-89 with 100 per cent financial assistance from Government of India with the main objective of providing computerized copies of the Record of Rights (RORs) to the land-owners at nominal rates on demand. At present, the scheme is being implemented in 582 districts in the country. Funds have also been provided to States/Union Territories for installation of hardware and software in 3147 tehsils/Talukas/blocks and 315 sub divisions. During the year 2004-05, a total amount of Rs.45.62 crore has been released to different States.
Rural Housing
The progress achievement under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) for the period from May 2004 till March 31, 2005 is given in the table :
Years
Funds utilized
(Rs. in crores)
(Centre + State share)
Targets
(No. in lakhs)
Houses constructed/upgraded (No. in lakhs)
2004-2005*
2255.26
14.12
9.64
*as reported by the State Governments (upto March 31, 2005).
New initiatives taken for IAY are:
i) Discontinuation of the schemes such as Innovative Stream for Rural Housing, Samagra Awaas Yojana & Rural Building Centres and merging with the main scheme, i.e. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) with effect from April 1, 2004.
ii) The ceiling on construction assistance under the IAY has been enhanced from Rs. 20,000/-to Rs. 25,000/- per unit for the plain areas and from Rs. 22,000/- to Rs. 27,500/- for the hilly/difficult areas.
iii) The ceiling on upgradation of unserviceable kutcha house to pucca/semi pucca house has also been enhanced from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,500/- for all areas. This ceiling came into effect from April 1, 2004.
Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) :
The outlay for SGSY has been enhanced from Rs.800 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.1000 crore in 2004-05. The following achievements have been made under SGSY during the year 2004-05 (up to February 2005):
No. of Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed : 2.15 lakh
No. of SHGs Swarojgaries Assisted : 5.94 lakh
Total no. of Swarojgaries assisted : 8.48 lakh
Total Credit mobilised :1231.92 crore
The first special project was sanctioned under SGSY for integrated cultivation and processing of Jatropa (bio-diesel) in Uttaranchal with an estimated cost of Rs. 1424.63 lakh. Special projects have been sanctioned under SGSY for skill development and promotion of micro-enterprises through public-private participation. Innovative special projects under SGSY were sanctioned for development of handicraft clusters and natural fibres to be implemented through National Institute of Fashion Technology and Development Commissioner(Handicrafts). The first special project under SGSY was sanctioned for livelihood improvement of performing artists living below the poverty line with a project cost of Rs.944.90 lakh. Implementing agency for the project will be East Zone Cultural Centre. A special project was sanctioned for replication of innovative technology developed for micro-spinning at the cost of Rs.471 lakh, implementing agencies of which are Dastkar Andhra and IIT, Chennai. An Innovative special project was sanctioned for development of low-cost back-yard poultry at the cost of Rs.1492 lakh, implementing agency of which is Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation. The report of the Inter-Ministerial Group was prepared for skill development of unemployed rural youths from BPL households. As a part of marketing initiative, 12 SARAS Fairs have been organised in New Delhi and State capitals to showcase and promote the products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) :
Seven pilot projects were launched under PURA to field test the strategy and Rs.10 crore were sanctioned during 2004-05.
RK:LV
PIB SF-16 (11.5.2005)
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