3.47 crore job cards issued under NREGA; 53.65 crore mandays generated
NATIONAL RURAL PRODUCTS MARKETING AGENCY TO BE SET UP SHORTLY FOR SUSTAINABLE MARKETING OF RURAL PRODUCTS
DR. RAGHUVANSH PRASAD SINGH INAUGURATES ECSSI-2007
The Minister
for Rural Development, Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, has said that there has
been, by & large, a good response to National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (NREGA) which completed one year on February 2, 2007. Inaugurating the two-day Editors’ Conference
on Social Sector Issues (ECSSI-2007) , the Minister said that 3.47 crore job cards have been issued till January 31, 2007 and 1.47 crore households
have been provided employment by generating
53.65 crore mandays of work. Dr.
Singh said that expansion of NREGA to more districts is under consideration
of the Government. Referring to employment
promotion through ‘Swarnjayanti Gram
Swarozgar Yojana’ (SGSY), the Minister
said that 1.49 lakh Self-help Groups
have been formed under it. The Government
proposes to cover all rural households under SHGs during 11th Plan.
He said that the National Rural Products Marketing Agency would be
placed in position shortly to help in providing sustainable marketing for
rural products. The full text of the Minister’s speech is as follows:
“I am honoured to be in the midst of such an
august assembly of journalists, opinion leaders and vanguards of social change,
at this 7th Editor’s Conference on social sector issues. I am sure
that this Conference would help in promoting better understanding between
Journalists and the Government functionaries, in our common quest for bringing
about a rapid economic and social
transformation of country. I am happy that you have come here from different
parts of the country for useful exchange of ideas and fruitful interactions.
I would also like to take this opportunity to share some thoughts with
you all.
2. We all know that lack of awareness has been one of the major obstacles
in securing people’s participation in the development process, in view of
this , the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities assume
particular significance since they make systematic, coordinated and effective
use of information for the education of the people and communicate such information
in a manner that makes it ‘empowering knowledge’. In this context
the role of media is extremely crucial and can play an important role
in highlighting the successes and failures of different programmes as well
as various aspects of their implementation. Today, Media in India can serve
as a change agent in bringing about socio economic transformation of the Indian
Society. Various media have their respective roles to play to bring about
betterment of welfare of the masses. The media has started evincing interest
in social issues and development communication.
3. The present rural development policy and strategy of the
Government is based on a business plan for rural India namely ‘Bharat Nirman’
and a legal framework of NREGA under which employment is assured to rural
household.
4. As you all know, the Present Mantra is ‘Bharat Nirman - building
India’. Under Bharat Nirman, developmental works are undertaken in the areas
of irrigation, road, rural housing, rural water supply, rural electrification
and rural telecommunication and connectivity.
Specific targets are to be achieved under each of these goals in time bound
manner so that there is accountability in the progress of this initiative.
Bharat Nirman is viewed as an effort to unlock rural India’s growth potential
and to be a key for ushering new era. The Ministry of Rural Development is committed to fulfill the goal of Bharat Nirman
by achieving the targets of rural connectivity, rural housing and rural water
supply within the prescribed time-frame.
5. This is also known to you all
that the ‘National Common Minimum Programme’ (NCMP) of the Government is meant for the well being of the
common men across the country. Targets are fixed for meeting the minimum needs
of the rural poor like housing, safe drinking water, modernizing rural infrastructure
and thus enhancing the welfare and wellbeing of the vulnerable sections of
Indian populace. This ministry has been taking necessary steps to ensure that
NCMP in relation to Ministry of Rural Development is fully implemented so
as to provide requisite support for the growth of the economy.
Unemployment is a major challenge
before us. Earlier, with the objective
of providing additional gainful employment in the rural areas as also food
security, alongside the creation of durable community, social and economic
infrastructure in the rural areas, the ‘Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana’ (SGRY)
was launched on 25th September, 2001 by merging the on-going schemes
of Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana and Employment assurance scheme. Now, SGRY
along with National Food for Work Programme (NFFWP) have been subsumed in
the NREGA districts. The ‘National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act’ 2005 (NREGA) has
been launched for securing the livelihood of the people in rural areas
by guaranteeing 100 days of employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to
do unskilled manual work. For the
first time in Indian History employment has been conferred the status of a
legal right through an Act of parliament. The NREGA provides a social safety
net for the vulnerable groups and an opportunity to combine growth with equity. Channelisation of resources under these programmes
in identified priority areas can go a long way towards enhancing and conserving
our natural resources and creating durable economic assets capable of triggering
opportunities for economic activity. The assets created result in sustained
employment for the area for future growth, employment and self-sufficiency.
From 2nd February 2006, NREGA is in
implementation in 200 most backward districts of the country. Under the
programme so far 3.47 crore job cards have been issued and 1.51
crore households have demanded employment and 1.47 crore have been provided
employment up to 31.1.2007.
So far, an amount of Rs. 13,008.95 crore has been released to the states, against which
7617.95 crore has been spent. 53.65
crore of mandays have been created. Total number of works taken up are more
than 5.81 lakhs, out of which more than 2.8 works related to water conservation.
Strict monitoring arrangements have been put in position to ensure
that every paisa being spent under NREGA is tracked. Smooth MIS system has
been developed and placed in position.
7. The promotion of self-employment
amongst the rural poor for their socio economic uplift has been long an integral
part of the strategy for poverty eradication and development in rural areas.
It is a strategy for social mobilization of rural poor for economic up-liftment.
‘Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana’ (SGSY) is the largest self-employment
programme for the rural poor. The assisted families (Swarozgaris) may be individuals
or groups (Self-Help Groups). However the emphasis is on the group approach.
The objective of the SGSY is to bring the assisted poor families above the
poverty line by providing them income generation assets through a mix of bank
credits and government subsidy. It is a holistic programme covering all aspects
of self-employment such as organization of poor into Self-Help Groups and
taking care of training, credit, technology
infrastructure and marketing. In order to provide incentives to rural artisans
SARAS Fairs are also organized in various parts of the country to promote
sale of products produced by Self- Help Groups.
In the current financial year, 2006-07 under SGSY, 1.49 lakh
SHGs have been formed. 1.37
lakhs SHGs have passed Grade-I and 0.61 lakhs SHGs have passed Grade-II. 0.46
lakhs SHGs have
been provided with economic assistance . In the current financial year
as against the allocation of Rs. 1200.00
crore, Rs. 925 crore has
been released up to Dec. 2006.
For tackling problem of unemployment among BPL rural youths, Ministry
has taken steps for skill up gradation training on large scale for self employment.
With a view to provide marketing linkage to the products
of SHGs, National Rural Products Marketing Agency has been conceived, which
is likely to be placed in position shortly. The Ministry has also asked States
to federate the SHGs at village, block, district, state and at the national
level having strong organizational presence. With a view to provide marketing
infrastructure, Ministry is creating marketing complexes at Pragati Maidan,
Dilli Haat at Pitampura, Jasola, Rajiv Ghandhi Handicrafts Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Ministry has also supported the State Governments for creation of State
level marketing complexes in the capitals of 11 States. Other States have
been asked to provide land and take up creation of marketing infrastructure.
8. Keeping in view that rural roads
are vital to economic growth and poverty alleviation in rural areas, ‘Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ (PMGSY) is being implemented as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme to provide
connectivity to unconnected habitations. The scheme is one of the components
of Bharat Nirman with the target to provide road connectivity to all villages
with a population of 1000+ (500+ in case of hilly or tribal areas) with an
all weather roads by 2009. It is expected under the scheme that an expanded
and renovated rural road network will lead to increase in rural employment
opportunities, better access to regulated and fair market, better access to
health, education and other public services and thus bridge the rural-urban
divide and pave the path of economic growth.
So far, more than 2,01,162 km roads to benefit 60,675 habitations
have been cleared with an estimated cost of Rs. 37,573 crore. Rs. 20,331 crore
have been released to the States and more than Rs.17,951 crore have been spent.
So far 1,04,992 km length road has been completed and over 30,000 habitations
have been provided new connectivity. The work in a road length of about 90,000 km
is in full swing.
Under Bharat Nirman by 2009 the major goals are to connect 66,802
habitations with all weather roads, to construct 1,46,185 kms of new rural
roads, to upgrade and modernize 1,94,132 kms of rural roads with an estimated
expenditure of Rs.48,000 crore. In
the current financial year, 2006-07 nearly 15,000 km all-weather roads have
been completed. New connectivity have
been provided to 3,400 habitations. Rs. 4560.00 crore has also been spent
so far. Strict quality monitoring has been put in position for ensuring connectivity
and timely completion of works.
9. Shelter is one of the basic requirements
for human survival. To provide houses to the poor shelter less and to quickly
cover the rural housing shortage, the Ministry has its flagship scheme ‘Indira
Awaas Yojana’. The Scheme is one of the components of Bharat Nirman package
which envisages about 60 lakh houses to be built by 2009. The ceiling on construction
assistance under the IAY currently is Rs. 25,000/- per unit for the plain
areas and Rs. 27,500/- for the hilly terrains/ difficult areas. In a major
initiative to impart transparency to the selection process permanent “waitlist”
being prepared for ensuring transparency
in selection of beneficiaries under IAY.
In the current financial year,2006-07 as against the allocation of
Rs. 2907.53 crore under IAY a sum of Rs. 1891.20 crore has been released to
the States. 5.76 lakh houses have
been constructed and 10.36 lakh houses are under construction as reported
by the States so far.
10. Land is critically important national resource, the
efficient management of which is vital for economic growth and development
of rural areas. Thus, the Ministry of Rural Development has taken up various initiatives to make the optimum utilization of land and improve its quality.
The Ministry is implementing the scheme namely ‘Drought Prone Areas Programmes’
(DPAP), ‘Desert Development Programmes’ (DDP) and ‘Integrated Wastelands Development
Programme’ (IWDP) related to development of wasteland and degraded lands through watershed approach.
This Ministry has initiated ‘Hariyali’ to empower the village communities through
Panchayati Raj Institutions to undertake the area development programmes on
watershed basis with financial and technical support from the Government.
Special emphasis is on rainwater harvesting and desilting of ponds under watershed
projects.
In the current financial year, 2006-07 against the allocation
of Rs. 1115.00 crore under the Area
Development Programmes (DPAP, DDP &IWDP), Rs. 912.77 crore has been released up to Dec., 2006. 3076 projects covering an area of 15.38 lakh
ha. have been sanctioned under DPAP. 2270
projects covering an area of 11.35 lakh ha. have been sanctioned under DDP.
461 projects covering an area of 21.05 lakh ha. has been sanctioned under
IWDP.
11. The Government is also committed
to have greater access to land by landless rural poor through various initiatives
pertaining to land reforms. In order to play an effective coordinating and
advisory role for the implementation of Land Reforms, the Land Reforms Division
organizes Conferences of Chief Ministers and Revenue Ministers from time to
time and, monitors conferment of ownership rights to tenants, restoration
of lands to tribal as well as prevention
of alienation of tribal lands, consolidation of holdings, distribution of
Government wastelands, ceiling surplus land and Bhoodan land etc. This
Ministry is making its best efforts in the best implementation of various
land reform measures by the States to improve
the relationship between the owners of land and the tillers and
bridging the gap between the haves and have-nots in the rural areas.
One of the constraints in improving the implementation of land
reforms is the absence of land records. The scheme of ‘Computerization of
Land Records (CLR)’ is aimed at removing the problems inherent in the manual
systems of maintenance and updating of Land Records and to meet the requirements
of various groups of users. With a view to assisting the States/ U.Ts in the
task of updating of land records, the centrally sponsored scheme, ‘Strengthening
of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records’ (SRA & ULR) is
under implementation.
So far in the States of Gujrat, Kerala
computerization of land records are being issued to the families and
other States are in the process and are expected to complete the task in few
months.
12. As you know that a separate Department
of Drinking Water Supply in the Ministry was created to expedite availability
of safe drinking water to people in rural areas. The Government of India also
supplement efforts made by the States by providing financial and technical
assistance under the ‘Accelerated
Rural Water Supply’ (ARWSP). Rural Drinking Water is also one of the six components
of Bharat Nirman and the proposed coverage of the remaining habitations of
Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) of 1999, the quality affected habitations
and to address the problem of slippage in the habitations. For promoting the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions
in the planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of rural drinking
water supply schemes of its choice ‘Swajaldhara’ scheme has also been launched.
Under the scheme 90% funds towards the projects cost is provided by the Government
and the beneficiary group has to contribute 10% of the cost.
Under rural drinking water supply component of Bharat Nirman,
so far, 1826 NC habitations, 14,666 PC habitations, 1,18,535 slipped bach
habitations and 5151 quality affected habitations have been provided with
safe drinking water. Till year 2009, 3052 NC habitations, 38, 894 PC habitations
and 2,52,060 slipped back habitations and 1,47,576 quality affected habitations
shall be covered. For ensuring sufficient and safe drinking water, Swajaldhara
and National Water Quality Monitoring
and Surveillance Programme have also been started.
13. Another area where a number of initiatives have been taken by
the government is in the promotion of cleanliness and hygiene in rural areas.
Central Government supplements the efforts of the State also in undertaking
rural sanitation under ‘Central Rural Sanitation Programme’ (CRSP) which was
launched in 1986. CRSP aims at improving the quality of life of the rural
poor and to provide privacy and dignity to women in rural areas. In 1999,
‘Total Sanitation Campaign’ (TSC) under restructured CRSP was launched to
improve quality of life and promote sanitation in rural areas. TSC follows
participatory demand responsive approach, educating the rural households about
the benefits of proper sanitation and hygiene. An incentive scheme called
Nirmal Gram Puraskar has been launched for Panchayati Raj Institutions which
is successful in eliminating totally the practice of open defecation in their
jurisdiction.
Under Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), during the last two years,
remarkable progress has been achieved. During the last financial years, 97
lakh toilets were built. 569 districts of the country have been covered under
TSC so far. As per 2001 Census, 22% rural habitations had sanitation facilities
which have now gone upto 40%. Government have planned to achieve the objective
of Total Sanitation Coverage by 2012, all schools would be provided with drinking
water and sanitation facilities by 31st March 2007.
For ensuring greater participation of PRIs and NGOs, Nirmal
Gram Puraskar has been introduced. In the year 2005, 40 gram panchayats and in 2006, 770 gram panchayats
were awarded. For the year 2007, proposals
have been received from 9703 gram panchayats, 120 blocks and 2 districts for
Nirmal Gram Puraskar.
14. The Ministry of Rural Development
is also making all efforts to keep a constant watch over the proper utilization
funds released under various schemes. Great emphasis has been laid on Monitoring
and Evaluation of all Rural Development Programmes to ensure optimum utilization
of resources.
The Monitoring mechanism includes, inter-alia, the
Performance Review Committee, Review meetings by the Minister of Rural
Development and Ministers of State with the Chief Ministers/Ministers of Rural
Development and Officers of the States, the Area Officer Scheme, On-line
reporting of Monthly Progress Reports, Submission of Audit and Utilization Certificates, Video Conferencing and Field
Visits. The Ministry also conducts evaluation of all major programmes.
15. Efforts by the Ministry
alone to create awareness and bring
about social mobilization towards participatory development would not be sufficient.
These efforts need to be supplemented by media and specially by press. However,
IEC activities have also been substantially scaled up to create/increase awareness
about the various rural development programmes. In order to sensitize media persons about issues
and factors relating to rural development, the Ministry has been organizing
Press conferences and media workshops at regular intervals.
In order to ensure capacity building of Panchayati Raj functionaries
by providing easy access to information on rural development programmes, it
was decided to bring out a monthly News letter ‘Grameen Bharat’ by the Ministry.
To make it more relevant to the local and micro level needs, from January,
2005, the Hindi and English language versions of the Newsletter printed by
the Ministry are sent to the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs).
DRDAs have been requested in turn to incorporate State/District specific
information pertaining to implementation of rural development programmes,
success stories relating to these programmes, rural technology and related
matters and add local flavors and translate them in respective regional language
of the State and distribute free of cost to all elected members of Gram Panchayats,
Block Panchayats and Zilla Parishad, local MPs and MLAs belonging to the District.
Many DRDAs have already started publishing such a Newsletter in an effective
manner.
16. I hope that with the time-bound multi-pronged approach adopted by
the Ministry of Rural Development through a wide range of programmes and new
initiatives and a well established monitoring
mechanism, it is hoped that there would be significant improvement in the overall quality
of the life in rural areas. I would
like all of you to come forward with your observations on what is happening
and give your views regarding the steps to be taken. I can assure you that
we would give utmost consideration to your views for taking corrective measures
and necessary steps”.
AD:MLD:LK:RD-4(Min. speech – ECSSI)5.2.07
(Release ID :24557)