RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MANOJ K. JHA 1. INDIRA AWAS YOJNA Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) was launched during 1985-86 as a sub-scheme of Rural Land and less Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) and continued as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) since its launching from April, 1989. It has been delinked from the JRY and has been made an independent scheme with effect from January 1, 1996. The objective of IAY is primarily to provide grant for construction of houses to members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and also to nonSC/ST rural poor below the poverty line. The target group for houses under IAY will be people below poverty line living in rural areas belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST subject to the condition that the benefits to non-SC/ST should not exceed 40% of total IAY allocation during a financial year. From 1995-96, the IAY benefits have been extended to ex-servicemen, widows or next of kin of defence personnel and paramilitary forces killed in action irrespective of the income criteria subject to the condition that (i) they reside in rural areas; (ii) they have not been covered under any other scheme of shelter rehabilitation; and (iii) they are houseless or in need of shelter or shelter upgradation. Priority will be given to other ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces as long as they fulfill the normal eligibility conditions of the Indira Awas Yojana and have not been covered under any other shelter rehabilitation scheme. The priority in the matter of allotment of houses to the ex-servicemen and paramilitary forces and their dependents will be out of 40% of the houses set apart for allotment among the non-SC/ST categories of beneficiaries. 3% of the funds have been earmarked for the benefit of disabled persons below poverty line. This reservation of 3% under IAY for disabled persons below the poverty line would be horizontal reservation i.e., disabled persons belonging to sections like SCs, STs and Others would fall in their respective categories. District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) / Zilla Parishads will decide the number of houses to be constructed panchayat-wise under IAY during a particular financial year. The same shall be intimated to the Gram Panchayat. Thereafter, the Gram Sabha will select the beneficiaries from the list of eligible households as per the IAY guidelines and as per priorities fixed, restricting this number to the target allotted. No approval of the Panchayat Samiti is required. The Panchayat Samiti should however, be sent a list of selected beneficiaries for their information. The order of priority for selection of beneficiaries amongst target group below poverty line is as follows: 1. Freed bonded labourers 2. SC/ST households who are victims of atrocities 3. SC/ST households, headed by widows and unmarried women. 4. SC/ST households affected by flood, fire, earthquake, cyclone and similar natural calamities. 5. Other SC/ST households.

6. Non- SC/ST households. 7. Physically handicapped. 8. Families/widows of personnel of defence services / paramilitary forces, killed in action. 9. Displaced persons on account of developmental projects, nomadic, seminomadic and de-notified tribals, families with disabled members and internal refugees, subject to the households being below poverty line. Allotment of houses should be in the name of female member of the beneficiary household. Alternatively, it can be allotted in the name of both husband and wife. NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (NSAP) Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limits of its economic capacity and development. In accordance with the Directive Principles of State Policy, Govt. of India launched NSAP as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme w.e.f 15th August 1995 towards fulfillment of these principles. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) then comprised of National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS). These programmes were meant for providing social assistance benefit to the aged, the BPL households in the case of death of the primary breadwinner and for maternity. These programmes were aimed to ensure minimum national standards in addition to the benefits that the States were then providing or would provide in future. National Old Age Pension Scheme 1. The age of the applicant (male or female) shall be 65 years or higher. 2. The amount of the old age pension will be Rs. 75/- per month for purpose of claiming Central assistance. 2

3. The applicant must be a destitute in the sense of having little or no regular means of subsistence from his/her own sources of income or through financial support from family members or other sources. In order to determine destitution, the criteria, if any currently in force in the state/ UT govt. may also be followed. The Govt. of India reserves the right to review these criteria and suggest appropriate revised criteria. 4. The ceiling on the total number of old age pension for purpose of claiming Central assistance is specified by Govt. of India. 5. Village, Panchayat and relevant authorities shall report for every case of death of pensioners immediately after its occurrence to the appropriate sanctioning authority. National Family Benefit Scheme 1. The primary breadwinner will be the member of household male or female whose earning contribute the largest proportion to the total household income. 2. The death of such a primary breadwinner should have occurred whilst he or she is in the age group of 18 to 64 years i.e., more than 18 years of age and less than 65 years of age. 3. The bereaved household qualifies as one under the poverty line according to the criterion prescribed by the Govt. of India. 4. Rs. 5,000/- in the case of death due to natural causes and Rs. 10,000/- in the case of death due to accident causes will be the ceilings for purposes of claiming Central assistance. In 1998, the amount of benefit under NFBS was raised to Rs 10,000 in case of death due to natural causes as well as accidental causes. 5. The family benefit will be paid to such surviving member of the household of deceased who, after due local enquiry is determined to be the head of the household. For the purpose of the
PROGRAMMES & POLICIES

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scheme, the term "household" would include spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters and dependent parents. National Maternity Benefit Scheme 1. The maternity benefit will be restricted to pregnant women for up to the first two live births provided they are of 19 years of age and above. As proof of the age of the applicant, Birth Certificate issued by Municipality/Sub-Divisional Office or an affidavit shown before a First Class Magistrate by the applicant or a certificate from the Head of the Institution where the applicant studied has to be given. 2. The beneficiary should belong to a household below the poverty line according to the criteria prescribed by the Government of India. 3. The ceiling on the amount of the benefit for purposes of claiming Central assistance will be Rs. 500/-. 4. The benefit is disbursed several weeks prior to the delivery. In case of delay, the benefit may be given even after the birth of the child. 5. The Scheme was transferred from the Ministry of Rural Development to Department of Family Welfare w.e.f. 1st April, 2001. It became part and parcel of the Population Stabilization Programme. Annapurna Scheme 1. On 1st April, 2000 a new Scheme known as Annapurna Scheme was launched. This Scheme aimed at providing food security to meet the requirement of those senior citizens who, though eligible, have remained uncovered under the NOAPS. 2. From 2002-03, it has been transferred to State Plan along with the National Social Assistance Programme. The implementation of the Scheme at the State level rests with the respective States/UTs.
PROGRAMMES & POLICIES

3. Under the Annapurna Scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free of cost to the beneficiary. 4. The number of persons to be benefited from the Scheme is, in the first instance, 20% of the persons eligible to receive pension under NOAPS in States/UTs. Introduction of two new Pension Schemes in 2009 1. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): In February 2009, GOI has approved pension to BPL widows in the age group of 40-64 years. i) The applicant should belong to a household below the Poverty Line as per criteria prescribed by the Government of India.

ii) The pension amount is Rs. 200 per month per beneficiary and the concerned state government is also urged to provide the equal amount to the person. iii) The pension is to be credited into a post office or public sector bank account of the beneficiary. iv) The pension will be discontinued if there is the case of remarriage or once the widow moves above the poverty line. 2. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): In February 2009, GOI has also approved pension under Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) for BPL persons with severe or multiple disabilities between the age group of 1864 years @ Rs. 200 p.m. per beneficiary. 3. PRADHAN MANTRI GRAM SADAK YOJANA Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched on 25th December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme to provide all-weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country. The programme envisages connecting all habitations with a population of 500 persons

and above in the plain areas and 250 persons and above in hill States, the tribal and the desert areas. 50% of the cess on High Speed Diesel (HSD) is earmarked for this Programme. The primary objective of the PMGSY is to provide connectivity, by way of an all weather road (with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures, which is operable throughout the year), to the eligible unconnected habitations in the rural areas, in such a way that all unconnected habitations with a population of 1000 persons and above are covered in three years (2000-2003) and all unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons by the year 2007 (end of Tenth Plan Period). The primary focus of the programme will be on construction of new roads. However, upgradation (to prescribed standards) of existing roads will be permitted to be taken up under the programme so as to achieve connectivity through good all-weather roads. The Programme shall cover only 'Other District Roads' (ODRs) and 'Village Roads' (VRs). CAPART The Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Rural Development. It was set up in September 1986 by the amalgamation of the People's Action for Development India (PADI) and Council for Advancement of Rural Technology (CART). The objects for which the Society is set up are: 1. to encourage, promote and assist voluntary action in the implementation of projects for the enhancement of rural prosperity; 2. to strength and promote voluntary efforts in rural development with focus on injecting new technological inputs in this behalf; 4

3. to act as the national nodal point for coordination of all efforts at generation and dissemination of technologies relevant to rural development in its wider sense; 4. to act as a catalyst for development of technology appropriate for the rural areas, by identifying and funding research and development efforts and pilot projects by different agencies and institutions particularly voluntary organizations; 5. to act as a conduit for transfer of appropriate technology to Government Departments, public sector undertaking, cooperative societies, voluntary agencies and members of public to encourage adoption of modern techniques and appropriate technology in rural development; 6. to assist and promote programmes aimed at conservation of the environment and natural resources; 5. SWAJALDHARA A new initiative "Swajaldhara" was launched on December, 2002, to open up the reform initiatives in the safe rural drinking water supply throughout the country. This programme aims at providing Community- based Rural Drinking Water Supply. The key elements of this programme are: 1. Demand-driven and participation approach, community

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2. Panchayats/communities to plan, implement, operate, maintain and manage all drinking water schemes, 3. Partial capital cost sharing by the communities upfront in cash, 4. Full ownership of drinking water assets with Gram Panchayats and 5. Full Operation and Maintenance by the users/Panchayats. The role of PRIs in implementation of this scheme are:
PROGRAMMES & POLICIES

1. Gram Panchayat shall convene a Gram Sabha Meeting where the Drinking Water Supply Scheme of People's choice including design and cost etc. must be finalized. Gram Panchayats are to undertake procurement of materials/ services for execution of schemes and supervise the scheme execution. 2. Gram Panchayat will decide whether the Panchayat wants to execute the Scheme on its own or wants the State Government Agency to undertake the execution. 3. After completion of such schemes, the Gram Panchayat will take over the Schemes for Operation & Maintenance (O&M). 4. Panchayat must decide on the user charges from the community so that adequate funds are available with Panchayat to undertake O&M. 6. MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE ACT NREGA has been renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) on Oct 2, 2009. The objective of the Act is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act was notified in 200 districts in the first phase with effect from February 2, 2006 and then extended to additional 130 districts in the financial year 2007-2008 (113 districts were notified with effect from April 1st 2007, and 17 districts in UP were notified with effect from May 15th 2007). The remaining districts have been notified under the MGREGA with effect from April 1, 2008. Thus MNREGA covers the entire country with the exception of districts that have a hundred per cent urban population. Salient features of the Act 1. Adult members of a rural household, willing to do unskilled manual work,
PROGRAMMES & POLICIES

may apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat, 2. The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card. The Job Card will bear the photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under MNREGA and is free of cost. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application. 3. A Job Card holder may submit a written application for employment to the Gram Panchayat, stating the time and duration for which work is sought. The minimum days of employment have to be at least fourteen. 4. Employment will be given within 15 days of application for work, if it is not given, then daily unemployment allowance as per the Act has to be paid, liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the States. 5. Work should ordinarily be provided within 5 km radius of the village. In case work is provided beyond 5 km, extra wages of 10% are payable to meet additional transportation and living expenses. 6. Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State, unless the Centre notifies a wage rate which will not be less than Rs. 60/ per day. 7. Equal wages will be provided to both men and women. 8. Wages are to be paid according to piece rate or daily rate. Disbursement of wages has to be done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case. 9. At least one-third beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested work under the scheme. 10. Work site facilities such as crche, drinking water, shade have to be provided. 11. The shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the Gram Sabha and approved by the Zila Panchayat.

12. A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained. No contractors and machinery is allowed. 13. The Central Government bears the 100 per cent wage cost of unskilled manual labour and 75 per cent of the material cost including the wages of skilled and semi skilled workers. 14. Social Audit has to be done by the Gram Sabha. 15. All accounts and records relating to the Scheme should be available for public scrutiny. 7. NIRMAL GRAM PURASKAR To give a fillip to the Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), Government of India launched the Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) in October 2003 and gave away the first awards in 2005. NGP seeks to recognise the efforts made by PRIs and institutions who have contributed significantly towards ensuring full sanitation coverage in their areas of operation. TSC lays strong emphasis on Information, Education and Communication (IEC), capacity building and hygiene education for effective behaviour change with the involvement of PRIs, CBOs, NGOs, etc. NGP is aimed at augmenting the efforts made under this IEC campaign. The main objectives of Nirmal Gram Puraskar (NGP) are: 1. To bring the topic of sanitation to the forefront of social and political development discourse in rural India.

2. To develop open defecation-free and clean villages which will act as models for others to emulate. 3. To give incentive to PRIs to sustain the initiatives taken by them to eliminate the practice of open defecation from their respective geographical area by way of full sanitation coverage. 4. To increase social mobilization in TSC implementation, by recognizing the catalytic role played by organizations in attaining universal sanitation coverage A "Nirmal Gram" is an "Open Defecation Free" village where all houses, Schools and Anganwadis having sanitary toilets and awareness amongst community on the importance of maintaining personal and community hygiene and clean environment. The award is given to those PRIs which attain 100% open defecation free environment. The concept of Nirmal Gram Puraskar has been acclaimed internationally as a unique tool of social engineering and community mobilization and has helped a difficult programme like rural sanitation to pick up. Each Gram Panchayat getting the NGP has a ripple effect in the surrounding villages. It has been the prime mover behind the amazing progress achieved in rural sanitation coverage since 2005. Sikkim has become first Nirmal State of the country.

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PROGRAMMES & POLICIES