INNOVATIVE SCHEME ON RURAL DRINKING WATER

HARIYALI - KEY TO WASTELANDS DEVELOPMENT

OVER 56,000 KM RURAL ROADS TAKEN UP UNDER PMGSY

11.45 LAKH SELF HELP GROUPS FORMED

MAJOR INITIATIVES IN MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DURING 1998-2003

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BACKGR0UNDER

Rural Development is the main pillar of Nation's Development. The thrust of these programmes is on all round economic and social transformation in rural areas, through a multi pronged strategy, aiming in the process, to reach out to most disadvantaged sections of the society. In order to catalyse development in rural areas, during the last five years, top priority has been accorded to Rural Development, not only in terms of allocations of additional funds and resources but also through introduction of new Programmes and restructuring of existing ones.

Swajaldhara-Potable Water to All

The Ministry has been mandated to make provision of safe drinking water to all habitations by 2004. To achieve this goal, in October, 1999, a new Department i.e. Department of Drinking Water Supply has been created in the Ministry.

A programme named "Sector Reform" based on demand responsive strategy and community participatory approach in rural drinking water sector was launched in 1999. So far, Sector Reform Projects for 67 districts of 26 States have been sanctioned with total cost of Rs.2060 crore and Rs.580.31 crore have been released, out of which Rs,156 crore have been utilized.

Encouraged by the success of Sector Reform Projects, a new initiative in rural drinking water named Swajaldhara has been launched by the Prime Minister on December 25, 2002. Under this initiative, as against the Districts under Sector Reforms, Panchayats, Blocks and other beneficiary groups have been empowered to formulate, implement, operate and maintain Drinking Water Projects. 90% of funds towards the projects cost is provided by the Government and the beneficiary group has to contribute 10% of the cost (5% in case of gram panchayat/villages where at least 50% of the population is SC and ST).

Considerable success has been achieved in meeting drinking water needs of the rural population over the years. Out of total number of 14.22 lakh rural habitations in the country, 12.95 lakh habitations are fully covered. 1.12 lakh habitations are partially covered and only 14356 habitations are not covered.

Haryali - Key to Wastelands Development

To improve productivity of wastelands and improve the living standard of the rural poor, the Prime Minister has launched the new scheme called "Haryali" on January 27, 2003. Its aim is to strengthen and involved Panchayati Raj Institutions for the implementation of Watershed Development Programmes viz. Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP), Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP). Under this initiative, the Gram Panchayat would execute watershed projects with technical support from the Block Panchayat/ Zilla Panchayat who would act as Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for all watershed projects in a particular Block.

The budget provision for the Department of Land Reforms which was about Rs.300 crore in 1997-2000 was enhanced to Rs. 900 crore in the last two years (2000-2002). It has further been enhanced to Rs.1,000 crore for the year 2002-03. A Pattadar Pass Book containing details of land owned by farmers has been released for adoption by the States.

In all, 17,579 watershed projects under DPAP and DDP, and 365 under IWDP have been sanctioned during the five years. The cost norms for the watershed development projects under the three watershed programmes namely IWDP, DPAP and DDP have been enhanced to a rate of Rs. 6,000 per hectare.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

The Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) on December 25, 2000, with the objective of providing road connectivity through good all-weather roads to all unconnected habitations having a population of more than 1,000 persons by the year 2003 and those with a population of more than 500 persons by the end of the Tenth Plan period (2007). For the years 2000-01 and 2001-02 road works worth Rs.7,553.28 crore have been cleared.

Over 37,000 Habitations are likely to be benefited and over 56,000 km of roads will be constructed upon completion of the road works already cleared under the PMGSY.

85% of the road works cleared in the year 2000-2001 have been completed and 82.50% of the funds released have been spent up to December, 2002.

Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)

The Prime Minister launched a new ambitious scheme on September 25, 2001 to provide additional employment in rural areas under the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) with an annual outlay of Rs.10,000 crore. Fifty lakh tonnes of foodgrains amounting to Rs 5,000 crore will be provided every year free of cost to the State governments and Union Territories under the scheme. The remaining outlay of Rs 5,000 crore will be utilised to meet the cash component of wages and the material costs. Nearly 100 crore mandays of employment are envisaged to be generated through this scheme every year in the rural areas.

The Panchayati Raj Institutions are fully involved with this programme. The works to be taken up under the SGRY are labour-intensive, leading to the creation of durable community assets.

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)

The Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is a new and holistic self-employment programme launched during the year 1999-2000. The SGSY aims at bringing all assisted swarozgari (beneficiary) above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy. A Self Help Group (SHG) consist of 10-20 persons belonging to families below the poverty line. In Self Help Group, they participate fully and directly take decisions on all issues that will help them in coming above the poverty line. Since inception, a total of 11.45 lakhs Self-Help Groups have been formed and 31.69 lakh Swarojgaris have been assisted. About 1 lakh groups have taken up economic activity.

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana - Gramin Awaas

The Government has recognised shelter as a basic human requirement, which needs to be met on a priority basis. 'Housing for All' is the goal. Efforts are being made to end the shelterlessness by the end of the Tenth Plan period. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana - Gramin Awaas was launched during 2000-2001. The objective of Indira Awas Yojana is primarily to facilitate construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses into pucca/semi-pucca houses by members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and also non SC/ST below the poverty line in rural areas. Under Indira Awaas Yojana, the flagship rural housing programme of the Ministry about 54 lakh houses have been constructed during the last five years.

Empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions

Panchayats have been recognised as the backbone for the development of Indian villages. The year 1999-2000 was observed as the 'Year of Gram Sabha'. During the years (1998-2002) panchayat elections held in the following States and Union Territories:

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, A&N Islands, D&N Haveli, Daman and Diu and Chandigarh

An All-India Panchayat Adhyaksha's Sammelan was held on April 5-6, 2002 in New Delhi to get a feedback from the Adhyakshas in order to revitalize and strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in a time bound manner. It was resolved that State governments will ensure the implementation of the provisions of Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 and the provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 in its true spirit.

Restructured Central Rural Sanitation Programme

The Restructured Central Rural Sanitation Programme (RCRSP) was launched on April 1, 1999. The restructured programme is community-led and people-centred. Rural school sanitation has been introduced as a major component of the programme as an entry point, encouraging wider acceptance of sanitation by the rural masses.

A Total Sanitation Campaign has been launched to suit district specific requirements. The campaign is now being implemented in 185 districts with an outlay of Rs.2,032 crore. Under the Total Sanitation Campaign, 10,55,365 household latrines, 597 sanitary complexes for women, 15,267 toilets for schools and 1117 Balwadis toilet have been constructed so far.

Monitoring

In order to ensure that the allocations made for Rural Development Programmes are properly utilized and the poor beneficiaries receive the benefits intended for them in full measures, Ministry of Rural Development has reconstituted Vigilance & Monitoring Committee

The Ministry has nominated the Members of Lok Sabha as the Chairman/Vice Chairman of the Distt. Level Vigilance & Monitoring Committee in their respective constituencies. Members of the Rajya Sabha are also nominated to state level Vigilance & Monitoring Committee.

CAPART

Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) has sanctioned 3524 projects and released Rs.191.99 crore during the last five years.

The Council organised a large exhibition - SARAS-2001 - during the India International Trade Fair. The Pavilion has been awarded gold medal by ITPO. SARAS-2002 begged gold medal for the best display from ITPO.