District Rural Development AgencyDRDA has traditionally been the principal organ at the district level to oversee the implementation of anti-poverty programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development. This agency was created originally to implement the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP). Subsequently the DRDAs were entrusted with number of programmes of both state and central governments. From 01 April 1989 a separate DRDA Administration has been introduced to take care of the administrative costs. This aims at strengthening the DRDAs and make them more professional in managing the anti-poverty programmes and be an effective link between the ministry and the district level. Rural development and poverty alleviation programmes are implemented on a decentralised basis, keeping in view the large geographical areas, the administrative requirements and the need to involve grassroots-level officials and the community in the implementation of the programmes. At the central level the Ministry of Rural Areas & Employment has been implementing these programmes. The Ministry is responsible for the release of central share of funds, policy formulation, overall guidance, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes. At the State level Secretary, Rural Development and the Director of Rural Development are overall incharge for implementation of the rural development programmes. At the District level, the programmes are implemented through the DRDAs (District Rural Development Agencies). The governing body of DRDA includes Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), District level officials of Development Departments, Bankers, NGO's and representatives of weaker sections of the society. The District Collector is the Chairman of the Governing Board and the Project Officer/ Project Director the Member Secretary. At the block level the Panchayat Union Council, Block Development Officers and at the village level, Panchayat leaders or village level workers are responsible for implementation of the Programme. The Governing body at the district level provides guidance and directions to DRDA. Many Schemes of the Central and State Governments are introduced from time to time. Several schemes are available providing support to different components of Rural Development. Schemes are also periodically modified to reflect the experience over the years. The task of DRDA has been to identify the needs of the rural population and reach the appropriate schemes where they are needed. In implementing the schemes, the role of the DRDA has been Technical, Managerial and Financial. Thus DRDA is not only a body to disburse the funds for the schemes but also provide appropriate Managerial and Technical support. In order to ensure proper implementation of the programmes at the grass roots Ministry of Rural Development has evolved a comprehensive system of Monitoring and Evaluation and professional agencies are made use of in this. Regular monitoring of the programmes are done to assess the physical and financial progress. Concurrent evaluation is conducted perodically to streamline the implementation and improve the delivery systems. The Monitoring and Evaluation programme includes Progress Reports, Financial Statements, Intensive Inspection by officers of the central and state governments, Parliamentary Committees and research studies on specific areas. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMESCENTRALLY SPONSORED PROGRAMMESSampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana (SGRY)The Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) implemented upto 2001-2002 for creation of employment opportunities and infrastructure facilities in the rural areas have been merged and a new scheme known as “Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana” (SGRY) has been introduced by the Government of India with effect from 01-04-2002. The main objective of this scheme is to provide Wage Employment and food security in rural areas along with the creation of durable community, social and economic assets in these areas. This programme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on cost sharing basis between Centre and State in the ratio of 75:25. This scheme will be available for all the rural population (BPL & APL). However, preference will be given to the poorest among the poor, AD&Tribal and parents of child labour withdrawn from hazardous occupations. Under this programme, the funds and food grains would be allocated to the States on the basis of proportion of the rural population. The main features of the new programme are as follows :- Ø Annual allocation will be made to Village Panchayat, Block Panchayat and District Panchayat in the ratio of 50 : 30 and 20. Ø Workers will be paid food grains as part of their wages at the rate of 5 Kgs of Rice per manday. The workers will be paid the balance of wages in cash, such that they are assured of the notified minimum wages. Ø The Payment of Wages, in cash as well as in food grains, will be made every week. Ø The works to be taken up will be labour intensive resulting in creation of additional wage employment and durable assets and infrastructure like moisture conservation works, watershed development, promoting traditional water resources, construction of Village infrastructure, link roads, Primary School Building, Dispensaries, Veterinary Hospitals, marketing infrastructure etc. For the year 2002-2003, a sum of Rs.593.00 lakhs were allotted under Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana Stream II and 861 works were taken up. Similarly, a sum of Rs.550.60 lakhs were allotted under Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana Stream I and 618 works were taken up. Further, 3195 M.Ts of rice under Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana Stream I and 3744 MTS of rice under Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana Stream II were lifted during 2002-2003. In view of the excellent performance of the state in implementing this programme, the Government of India have given an additional allocation of Rs.25 crores in March 2002. With this, the outlay for this scheme during 2002-2003 will be Rs.267 crores, which will be matched by an equivalent amount by government in the form of food grains. Implementation MethodologyDistrict Rural Development Agency will allocate funds to all village panchayats. Identification of works and annual action plan preparation will be done by Village Panchayat. Such annual action plan will be approved by Grama sabha and forwarded to DRDA. For works up to Rs.50,000 of estimate no external approval is required. Works will be executed by the Village panchayat. Execution by contractor is prohibited. Technical supervision shall be the responsibility of Block and DRDA. Wage employment under the programme is given to below poverty line families. Muster roll shall be maintained for every work separately showing the details of wages paid to workers. ComponentsRural infrastructure like roads, buildings, improvement of streets,drainages, infrastructure support for SHGs can be taken up. Priority is given for the improvement of streets with cut stone, brick or concrete pavement or with bituminous surface. Economic assets can be provided to individual SC/ST beneficiaries for sustainable employment. Water harvesting works like desilting and strengthening of ponds, Ooranies, Kulam, Kuttai etc, desilting of inlet and supply channels, construction of check dams etc should be taken up on priority. Implementing AgencyThe scheme is primarily implemented through village panchayat, block panchayat and District Panchayat which will be responsible for planning and execution.
SWARNJAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANASwarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is the single self-employment programme for the rural poor. Launched on April 1, 1999 the programme replaces the earlier self-employment and allied programmes - IRDP, TRYSEM, DWCRA, SITRA, GKY and MWS, which are no longer in operation. SGSY is an innovative and carefully thought-out programme. It takes into account all the strengths and weaknesses of the earlier self-employment programmes. It offers the perfect balance of credit and subsidy. Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, building upon the potential of the rural poor. A significant aspect of SGSY is that every family assisted under this programme will be brought above the poverty line in three years and therefore the programme aims at creating substantial additional incomes for the rural poor. Subject to availability of funds, it is proposed to cover 30% of the rural poor in each block in the next five years. It will target the most vulnerable among them. At least 50% of the Swarozgaris (Self Emloyed) will be SC/STs, 40% women and 3% disabled. Salient featuresSGSY is conceived as a holistic programme of micro-enterprises covering all aspects of self-employment, viz., organisation of the rural poor into self-help groups and their capacity building, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure build up, technology, credit and marketing. SGSY focuses on Group approach. This would involve organisation of the poor into self-help groups (SHGs) and their capacity building. The Gram Sabha will authenticate the list of families below the poverty line identified in the BPL census. Identification of individual swarozgaris will be made through a participatory process. SGSY is a credit-cum-subsidy programme. Credit will be the critical component in SGSY, subsidy being only an enabling element. Accordingly, SGSY envisages a greater involvement of the banks, in the planning and preparation of projects, identification of activity clusters, infrastructure planning as well as capacity building and choice of activity. Subsidy under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana would be uniform at 30% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs. 7,500 (for SCs/STs it would be 50% and Rs. 10,000 respectively). For self-help groups, subsidy would be 50% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of 1.25 lakh. SGSY takes into account the role of every participant - the panchayats, gram sabhas, banks, financial institutions, NGOs as well as the technical institutions in the district. Funding PatternFunds under the SGSY will be shared by the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 75:25. RURAL HOUSINGIndira Awaas YojanaIntroductionAs part of the efforts to meet the housing needs of the rural poor, Indira Awaas yojana was started in May 1985 as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. From 1 January, 1996 it is being implemented as an independent scheme. The objective of Indira Awaas Yojana is primarily to help construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses of members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribles, freed bonded labourers and also non-SC/ST rural poor below the poverty line by providing them with grant-in aid. The target group for houses under Indira Awaas Yojana includes people below poverty line living in rural areas belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories. From 1995-96, the IAY benefits have been extended to widows or next-of kin of defence personnel killed in action. Benefits have also been extended to ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces as long as they fulfill the normal eligibility conditions of Indira Awaas Yojana. 3 percent of funds are reserved for the benefit of disabled below the poverty line in rural areas. Salient FeaturesAllotment of the house in the name of the female member of the house-hold or in the joint names of husband and wife. A minimum of 60 percent of funds are to be utilised for construction of houses for the SC/ST people. Sanitary latrine and smokeless chulah are integral to an IAY house. Selection of beneficiaries under IAY is done by the Gram Sabha. Selection of construction technology, materials and design is left entirely to the choice of beneficiaries. Upgradation of unserviceable kutcha houses at the rate of Rs. 10,000 per unit has also been introduced from the year 1999-2000. Indira Awaas Yojana is a Centrally sponsored scheme funded on cost-sharing basis between the Government of india and the States in the ratio of 75:25. Implementing AgencyThe IAY is implemented through District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) specially set up in each district of the country for the implementation of Rural Development Programmes or through Zilla Parishads. At the village level, the Gram Sabha is responsible for selection of beneficiaries. STATE SPONSORED PROGRAMMESELF SUFFICIENCY SCHEMEThis scheme was launched in 2001-2002 and is similar to Namakku Naame Thittam. The thrust is on community participation in developmental process and right from the identification of works to execution and maintenance of assets is through a participatory process. Quality of work and timely completion is ensured through community participation. The community effort is supported by government funds and technical assistance. Minimum of 25% public contribution either in cash, kind or labour is a prerequisite. Implementation Methodology:Community needs can be identified during Grama Sabha. If community comes forward to contribute a minimum of 25% of total project cost as cash, kind or labour, the district collector can be moved for allocation of balance amount. Works can be executed directly by community subject to the technical specification and supervision of the respective department. Contribution can be accepted from individuals, community institutions, or companies. However, direct involvement of beneficiary public is preferred. Works are identified by people themselves. All type of community works ranging from link roads, bridges, school buildings, drinking water works, improvement of school infrastructure, etc can be taken up. However such work should reflect priority community needs. Works can be taken up in urban areas also. Works under this scheme can be taken up by people in the habitation also and not necessarily through Panchayat bodies. Implementing Agency:DRDA monitors this programme. District Collector releases the fund. Execution of works are by community themselves, village panchayat can motivate public and fully utilise this scheme. MLA CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT SCHEMEUnder this scheme Rs.82.00 lakhs is allotted every year to each assembly constituency to take up infrastructural works. The MLAs concerned will suggest the works for execution to the District Administration every year subject to government guidelines. DRDA, being the district level co-ordinating agency, will approve the works and entrust the same to local bodies or line departments depending on the nature of work suggested. ComponentsOut of the total allocation of 82 lakhs, Rs.15.00 lakhs is earmarked for taking up of water supply works, Rs 35.00 lakhs is earmarked for taking up of Priority works like Women sanitary complexes and Office for VAOs and the remaining 32.00 lakhs is earmarked for taking up of other infrastructural works.
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