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INCLUSIVE GROWTH

Reports and Committees

1. India Human Development Report, 2011
The recently released Human Development Report, 2011 with the theme Towards Social Inclusion has
praised the efforts of poorer States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in making the development process more
socially inclusive through improving the lot of their marginalized Dalits and Tribals. However it has
lamented the richer and developed States like Gujarat wherein the process has not been socially inclusive.

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The highlights of the Report are as follows:

The overall Human Development Index (HDI) for the country has improved through the last decade, with
the inequality gap between States narrowing down. In the last decade the HDI increased by 21 per cent
from 0.387 in 1999-2000 to 0.467 in 2007- 08.

The HDI list has been topped by Kerala with highest education, health and consumption expenditure
index. It is followed by Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.

Chhattisgarh, Orissa, MP, UP, Jharkhand & Assam have an HDI below the national average of 0.467. MP
has the lowest HDI value and thus is at the bottom.

In some poorer States like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, MP, Chhattisgarh, Orissa & Assam the quantum of
improvement in HDI has been higher than the national average of 21 per cent.

The overall increase in HDI is attributed to 28.5 per cent increase in education index across the country.
It ranges from 0.92 for Kerala to 0.41 in case of Bihar. The improvement in the education index was the
greatest in States like UP, Rajasthan & MP. However, according to the Report, India is also home to
more than one-third of the global world illiterates wherein the percentage of illiterates from SC, ST and
Muslim minority community are very high. Among SC/ST, more than 50 per cent of women are illiterates.

The improvement in health index has been slow. It has improved by 13.2 per cent in the last decade. The
highest growth in the health improvement has been noted in Goa (72%) followed by Chhattisgarh (22%).
In Delhi the growth rate is a meager 4 per cent. Further there exists wide inter-State variation in the health
index. It ranges from 0.82 in Kerala to 0.41 in Assam.

The prevailing condition of sanitation is threatening according to the report. Though half of the population
had access to sanitation in 2008 still there exists wide inter-State variation. In the States of MP, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, still 75 per cent of the population does not have
access to sanitation.

The most serious challenge arises on the nutrition front. Though Madhya Pradesh still is numero uno in
malnutrition and undernutrition, more concern arises from the increase in malnutrition in the richer and
developed States like Gujarat. The State with 69.7% kids up to 5 being anaemic and 44.6% suffering from
malnutrition, proves that high growth was no guarantor of improvement in health.

It is the robust infrastructure in Kerala, Delhi and Goa that has contributed to the overall improvement
in HDI, whereas it is the poor condition of infrastructure in poorer States that has kept these States poor.

Notes

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SC

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There has been impressive growth in teledensity overtime from 22 per cent in 2008 to 66 per cent in
2010 on account of increase in urban tele-density. Besides, the report also highlights that 75 per cent of
population have access to electricity.

The report prepared by the Delhi-based Institute of Applied Manpower Research for the Planning
Commission focuses on income, education, health, literacy, nutrition and sanitation in the country.

2. Tendulkar Committee Report on Poverty Estimation

The Planning Commission constituted an Expert Group in December 2005 under the chairmanship of
Professor Suresh D. Tendulkar to review the methodology for estimation of poverty. The Expert Group
submitted its report in December 2009.

While acknowledging the multidimensional nature of poverty, the Expert Group recommended moving
away from anchoring poverty lines to the calorie-intake norm to adopting MRP based estimates of
consumption expenditure as the basis for future poverty lines and MRP equivalent of the urban poverty
line basket (PLB) corresponding to 25.7 per cent urban headcount ratio as the new reference PLB for rural
areas.

On the basis of the above methodology, the all-India rural poverty headcount ratio for 2004-05 was
estimated at 41.8 per cent, urban at 25.7 per cent, and all-India at 37.2 per cent. It may, however, be
mentioned that the Tendulkar Committees estimates are not strictly comparable to the official poverty
estimates because of different methodologies.

As has been indicated in the Mid Term Appraisal of the Eleventh Five Year Plan, the revised poverty lines
for 2004-05 as recommended by the Tendulkar Committee have been accepted by the Planning Commission.

The Tendulkar Committee has specifically pointed out that the upward revision in the percentage of rural
poverty in 2004-05, resulting from the application of a new rural poverty line should not be interpreted
as implying that the extent of poverty has increased over time. These estimates, as reported by the
Committee, clearly show that whether we use the old method or the new, the percentage of BPL population
has declined by about the same magnitude.

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SC

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3. Saxena Committee Report on Conducting bPL Census in Rural Areas

An Expert Group headed by Dr N.C. Saxena was constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development to
recommend a suitable methodology for identification of BPL families in rural areas.

The committee observed that the national poverty line at Rs. 356 per capita per month in rural areas and
Rs. 539 per capita per month in urban areas at 2004-05 prices permitted both rural and urban people to
consume about 1820 k calories as against the desired norm of 2400/2100 k calories. Hence a large
number of the rural poor got left out of the BPL status benefits as in order to consume the desired norm
of 2400/ 2100 k calorie.

Thus, the committee recommended that the cut-off line for determining BPL status should be around Rs.
700 in rural areas and Rs. 1000 in urban areas.

The committee recommended that the percentage of people entitled to BPL status should be revised
upwards to at least 50 percent though the calorie norm of 2400 would require it to be 80 percent.

The committee also recommended doing away with score-based ranking of rural households followed for
the BPL census 2002 and has recommended automatic exclusion of some privileged sections and automatic
inclusion of certain deprived and vulnerable sections of society, and a survey for the remaining population
to rank them on a scale of 10.

Notes

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Automatic Exclusion: Households that fulfill any of the following conditions will not be surveyed for
BPL census:
1.

Families who own double the land of the district average of agricultural land per agricultural household
if partially or wholly irrigated (three times if completely un-irrigated).

2.

Families that have three or four-wheeled motorized vehicles, such as, jeeps or SUVs.

3.

Families that have at least one mechanized farm equipment, such as, tractors, power tillers, threshers
or harvesters.

4.

Families that have any person who is drawing a salary of over Rs. 10,000 per month in a nongovernment/ private organization or is employed in government on a regular basis with pensionary
or equivalent benefits.

Automatic Inclusion: The following would be compulsorily included in the BPL list:
Designated primitive tribal groups.

2.

Designated most discriminated against SC groups, called Maha Dalit groups.

3.

Single women-headed households.

4.

Households with a disabled person as breadwinner.

5.

Households headed by a minor.

6.

Destitute households which are dependent predominantly on alms for survival.

7.

Homeless households.

8.

Households that have a bonded labourer as member.

SC

1.

GS

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5. Income tax payers.

4. S.r. Hashim Committee for Identification of bPL Families in Urban Areas

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) is the nodal Ministry for issue of
guidelines to identify BPL families in urban areas. Till now, no uniform methodology was being followed
by the States/UTs to identify the urban poor.

An Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Professor S.R. Hashim has been constituted by the Planning
Commission in May 2010 to recommend the methodology for identification of BPL families in urban
areas in the context of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The expert group submitted an interim report this month recommending that poverty in urban areas be
identified through specific vulnerabilities in residential, occupational and social categories. It said that:
Those people who are homeless, live in temporary houses where usage of dwelling space is susceptible
to insecurity of tenure and is affected by lack of access to basic services should be considered
residentially vulnerable.

2.

People unemployed for a significant proportion of time or with irregular employment or whose work
is subject to unsanitary or hazardous conditions or has no stability of payment for services should
be regarded occupationally vulnerable.

3.

Households headed by women or minors or where the elderly are dependent on the head of household

Notes

1.

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or where the level of literacy is low or members are disabled or chronically ill should be considered
socially vulnerable.

The expert group is yet to finalise the detailed methodology for an ordinal ranking of the poor on the basis
of vulnerability.

5. Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index

The HDR 2010 and 2011 measured poverty in terms of a new parameter, namely multidimensional
poverty index (MPI), which replaced the human poverty index (HPI) used since 1997.

The MPI indicates the share of the population that is multi-dimensionally poor adjusted by the intensity
of deprivation in terms of living standards, health, and education.

According to this parameter, India with a poverty index of 0.292 and poverty ratios of 41.6 per cent (in
terms of PPP $ 1.25 a day) and 28.6 per cent (national poverty line) is not favourably placed when
compared with countries like China and Sri Lanka. In fact, the difference in population below the poverty
line (BPL) widens substantially in case of India when this indicator is used instead of the national poverty
line indicator, while for other countries, there is less of a difference and in some cases even a fall.

According to HDR-2011 with an MPI of 0.283, 53.7% Indians have been placed in the bracket of multidimensionally poor (612 million), the largest concentration of such poor people in the world. Moreover,
intensity of deprivation in India was 50 per cent in terms of overall life satisfaction between 2006 and
2010.

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1) MGNREGA

b)

Key Facts
i.

It is thelargestwork guarantee programme in the world

ii.

Launched in 2005

Basic Provisions

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a)

SC

Programs

i.

Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.

ii.

Time bound guarantee of work and unemployment allowance: Employment must be provided with
15 days of being demanded failing which an unemployment allowance must be given.

iii. Wage rate: Wages must be paid according to the wages specified for agricultural laborers in the
stateunder the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, unless the central government notifies a wage rate.
iv.

Decentralized planning: Gram Sabhas must recommend the works that are to be undertaken and at
least 50% of the works must be executed by them. PRIs are primarily responsible for planning,
implementation and monitoring of the works that are undertaken.

v.

Type of Work: The Act provides a list of works that can be undertaken to generate employment
related to water conservation, drought proofing, land development, and flood control and protection
works.

Notes

vi. Transparency and Accountability: There are provisions for proactive disclosure through wall writings,
citizen information boards and Social audits (to be conducted by gram sabhas to enable the community
to monitor the implementation of the scheme).

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c)

Achievements:

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 has played a crucial role in sustaining
the rural economy as brought out by third party evaluation done by reputed universities.
This is the largest public employment programme in the World providing work to 5 Crore rural households
or 10 Crore workers. One in every 3 rural households is a worker under the programme. It addressed 41%
of the problem of underemployment in the rural areas.

b)

Studies have shown that the income from these works has come when there is no other means of
livelihood; and is therefore has smoothened the rural consumption in the lean periods and drought periods.

c)

Where implemented properly, it arrested distress migration1 and provided a safety net for the poor in the
lean agricultural season.

d)

Provided sustainable work to the rural women as evidenced by main workers (female) increasing from
54.1% in 2001 to 55.6% in 2011. This has had positive impacts on the nutritional standards of the entire
household especially during lean seasons.

e)

The programme has had large positive effects on consumption and poverty of SC/ST households in the
lean agricultural seasons.

f)

It also had provided risk-resilience to the small/marginal farmers in the face of drought. By allowing shift
towards high-risk high-profitability crops, the programme has considerably raised the incomes of smallholder
farmers in the medium term.

g)

The programme has had a positive impact on financial inclusion by bringing 9.37 Cr rural households into
the financial inclusion network. The urban-rural divide in accessing institutional finance is getting reduced.

h)

Several useful assets have been created by works taken up under the Act. This includes millions of acres
of uncultivable lands brought under cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, afforestation programme in Bihar, wells
taken up in Madhya Pradesh/ Jharkhand, environmental stabilization works in the hilly areas like Sikkim,
drought resistance programmes in Rajasthan.

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SC

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a)

According to Standing Committee report 2013

i.

Ensuring livelihood for people in rural areas. Increasing the wage rate in rural areas,

ii.

Creation of rural infra and thus facilitating sustainable development,

iii. Strengthening PRIs by involving them in the planning and monitoring of the scheme,
iv.

Large scale participation of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs) and other traditionally
marginalized sections of society. SCs/STs account for 51% of the total person-days generated and women
account for 47% of the total person-days generated.

v.

Prevents distress migration; thus less strain on urban infra; less slums

Recent Developments
Improved quality of planning: An elaborate Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) was conducted in 2500
backward blocks in July-Dec 2014. Under this, about 2.5 lakh specially trained stakeholder youth conducted
resource mapping, social mapping, wealth ranking and transect walks and arrived at the assets that they
require in the village. These are being converted into the shelf of works for execution during 2015-16. This
would bring greater participation and scientific methods in planning of works, apart from focusing on
convergence with other programmes.

Notes

1.

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2. Steps taken to improve quality of assets

A clear Outcome orientation has been brought about execution of works. Orders have been issued on
5th August 2014 making measurement of outcomes after execution of the work mandatory. Accordingly,
outcomes of 17.36 lakh works completed have been measured. Where the outcomes achieved are
significantly lower, rectification measures are being put in place.

b)

Keeping in view the need to reorient the technical manpower a comprehensive training programme has
been launched which will be completed during 2015-16. An online learning programme is also being
launched so that technical personnel can learn at their convenience.

c)

Schedule I to the MGNREG Act, 2005 has been modified on 21st July 2014 providing that at least 60%
of the works being taken in a district in terms of cost shall be for creation of productive assets directly
linked to agriculture and allied activities through development of land, water and trees. This would help
bringing Rs. 14,580 Cr investment into agriculture and allied activities; and with a potential for another
Rs. 6,000 Cr investment before 31st March 2015. This has the potential to create irrigation sources,
improve soil fertility, increase tree cover and enhance agricultural productivity.

d)

In order to allow creation of durable assets, the 60:40 ratio of labour to material component will be
maintained at the district level (instead of Block level) for the works to be executed by implementing
agencies other than Gram Panchayats. This would help in taking up permanent roads, agricultural storage
spaces and useful buildings in the rural areas.

e)

To facilitate States to engage technical assistants for better technical planning and supervision of works
under MGNREGS, guidelines were issued on 21.8.2014 to allow their establishment cost as a part of
material cost of works instead of administrative cost.

f)

Guidelines have been issued for watershed management works taken up independently under MGNREGS
or in convergence with IWMP. This will allow synergy between IWMP and MGNREGS so as to treat
the rain-fed agricultural areas, bringing in climate resilience. g) A massive Plan of action for road-side tree
plantation has been launched to cover all PMGSY roads and other highways. Under this, useful trees are
planted and maintained by the poorest of poor MGNREGS beneficiaries who would also be assigned
usufruct of these trees. More than 1 Crore trees have been planted under this programme in various States
during the current year.

g)

Under Swachh Bharat Mission

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SC

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a)

Rural, guidelines have been issued increasing the cost per individual toilet to Rs. 12,000. An action plan is
being finalised for construction of 2 Crore toilets on a saturation mode to convert villages into Open Defecation
Free villages.

3. Steps taken to Curb corruption

Social audit ensures comprehensive public scrutiny of records and accounts with a view to enhance
transparency and accountability. Although it is a statutory requirement under the Act, the existing social
audits were not done in the manner prescribed under the Rules notified in June, 2011. In order to support
the States and to strengthen the social audit structures, the Ministry has sanctioned central assistance of
Rs.147 crore. After due persuasion with the States, (16) States which account for more than 85% of the
total expenditure:

i)

(10) States have operationalised the Social Audit Units as laid down in the Rules. They are: Andhra
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Mizoram, Sikkim, Telengana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar
Pradesh.

Notes

a)

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ii)

(4) States have constituted independent agencies but are yet to appoint full time personnel for conduct
of Social Audits: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Manipur and Meghalaya.

iii) (2) States have appointed Director of Social Audit, but did not constitute independent Societies: Rajasthan
and Jammu & Kashmir.
iv) (11) States are yet to comply with the Rules: West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh,
Assam, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Further, a cell has been established
at NIRD-PR to guide the States in correct conduct of the Social Audits.
b)

Ombudsmen have been established in all Districts empowered to entertain complaints and deliver Awards
after examining records.

4. Convergence

NREGS Vision Plan Under NDA for 2015-16

a. Protecting Entitlements of Workers

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All States have been encouraged to converge the other development schemes with MGNREGA. This will
allow increasing the technical input into the Scheme and would also allow better and more durable assets. This
convergence is proposed to be worked with departments of agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, sericulture,
Panchayat Raj, Environment and Forests etc.

b. Avoiding Delays in Payment

SC

The systems for collection of demand and opening of works would be strengthened. This involves a regular
conduct of the Rozgar Diwas in all wards in every Gram Panchayat at least once a month. This would also
work as a grievance redressal forum for on-the-spot redressal of grievances of workers.

GS

To ensure that payment is made on time, an IT-based SMS alert system is being institutionalised. This will
allow constant monitoring of each muster till the payment is actually made. Besides, the fund flow system
is being made more efficient by linking with the Plan Fund Management System (PFMS). These measures
have already started showing results, and the percentage of timely payment jumped from 28% in 2014-15 to
70% in 2015-16. MGNREGS has been notified under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme of Government
of India for quicker and more transparent disbursement of wages. Under this, Aadhaar numbers of 3.9 Crore
workers (out of 8.8 Cr active workers) have so far been captured and the process is going on for converting
these accounts into Aadhaar based system. This would reduce the delays in disbursement of wages, apart from
eliminating the bogus cases from the list.

c.

Conduct of Social Audit as per the Rules

All the (16) States which are ready to conduct Social Audits as laid down in the Rules would take up Social
Audits covering all their Gram Panchayats at least once each year. These Audits will be supported by the
NIRD-PR by provision of technical support. Efforts would be made for ensuring that other States come to
comply with the statutory provisions of Social Audit.

d. Mobile Based Monitoring on Pilot Basis Under MGNREGA

Notes

Mobile Monitoring system (MMS) is being rolled out in 35,000 GPs as a pilot to allow real time monitoring
of all works, worker attendance and works site measurement. After evaluating the success of this, it is
proposed to roll this out to all the GPs.

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e. To Expand to eFMS and Align with eFMS

More than 94% of the GPs have already been brought under the electronic fund Management System (eFMS)
that allows direct electronic credit of wages into the accounts of the workers. The balance Gram Panchayats,
which do not have connectivity, are being provided connectivity through the Block offices using the VSAT
system. This would allow instant transfer of wages into the worker accounts, apart from achieving transparency
in fund flow and optimisation of fund utilisation.

f.

Skilling MGNREGA Workers

With a view to strengthen the livelihoods of the poorest households dependent on MGNREGA works for
sustenance, it is proposed that workers from such households may be skilled in convergence with the NRLM
and DDU-SKY programmes of the Ministry, so that they can have employment opportunities through the year.
The project Livelihoods in Full Employment (LIFE) has identified 14 lakh households which have completed
100 days work in 2014-15 and having workers under 35 years of age. This skilling of these workers would be
done in the following manner:
Imparting skills required for migrating to urban areas using the apprenticeship or the DDU-SKY skill
training; and later placing them in jobs in urban areas.

b.

Grouping workers into labour cooperatives, training and equipping them so that they seek contract work
with construction/road laying firms

c.

Organising workers into groups, skilling and equipping them with essential machinery to take up agricultural
operations efficiently and at competitive market rates. This will not only help giving sustainable incomes
to the workers but would resolve the problem of labour shortage in agriculture.

SC

OR
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a.

2) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)

a)

Facts

i.

When launched:
2011

ii.

It was formed by restructuring SGSY (Swarnajayanti gram swarozgar yojana) which was launched in
1999.

GS

ii.

i.

Ajivika : It has been renamed as AJIVIKA

iii. Ministry incharge : Ministry of rural development

iv.

Target group :

BPL group (and in that preference is given to scs, sts, minorities,disabled)

b)

Detail

i.

Main aim/target: To take out 7 crore rural poor hoseholds (35 crore population) out of poverty by
providing them with employment.

ii.

The core values which guide all the activities under NRLM are as follows:

Inclusion of the Poorest

Notes

Transparency

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Accountability

Equity - to the disadvantaged, esp. women and vulnerable groups

Partnerships; and

Ownership and key role of the poor in all stages - planning, implementation and monitoring

iii. Key Features of NRLM

Universal Social Mobilization

Promotion of Institutions of the Poor

Demand Driven

Training and Capacity building

Revolving Fund and Capital Subsidy

Universal Financial Inclusion

Provision of Interest Subsidy

Infrastructure Creation and Marketing support

Skills and Placement Projects

Linkages with PRIs

SC

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Sensitive Support Structure of National Rural Livelihood Mission:

Type : It is for both types of employment

i.

ii.

Self employment :

GS

c.

1.

In this SHGs will be formed (aim is to include 1 women member from each identified rural
poor household to be brought under the SHG network).

2.

And these SHGs formed will be given training to ensure skill development to start aelf
employment to start their entrepreneurial ventures.

3.

And they will also be provided with monetary assistance i.e. these SHGs will be linked to
banks so as to avail credit and this will ensure financial inclusion.

Wage employment :

1.

Also the government will use 15% of the schemes allocation to train rural youth and get them jobs in
collaboration with private companies in sectors like textiles, computer and hardware services, hospitality
and infrastructure.

d.

MKSP : Mahila kisaan shasaktikaran pariyojana

It was launched in 2011.

b.

It was started as a sub component of the NRLM (national rural livelihood mission).

c.

It was launched to meet the specific needs of of women farmers, predominantly small and marginal
formers.

Notes

a.

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Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)

The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was launched on 25 September, 2001 by merging the
on-going schemes of EAS and the JGSY with the objective of providing additional wage employment and
food security, alongside creation of durable community assets in rural areas.

The programme is self-targeting in nature with provisions for special emphasis on women, scheduled
castes, scheduled tribes and parents of children withdrawn from hazardous occupations.

While preference is given to BPL families for providing wage employment under SGRY, poor families
above the poverty line can also be offered employment wherever NREGA has been launched.

The annual outlay for the programme is Rs. 10,000 crore which includes 50 lakh tonnes on food grains.

The cash component is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25.

Food grains are provided free of cost to the States/UTs. The payment of food grains is made directly to
FCI at economic cost by the Centre. However, State Governments are responsible for the cost of
transportation of food grains from FCI godown to work-site/PDS shops and its distribution. Minimum
wages are paid to the workers through a mix of minimum five kg of food grains and at least 25 per cent
of wages in cash.

The programme is implemented by all the three tiers of Panchayat Raj Institutions. Each level of Panchayat
is an independent unit for formulation of Action Plan and executing the scheme. Resources are distributed
among District Panchayat, Intermediate Panchayats and the Gram Panchayats in the ratio of 20:30:50.

The Gram Panchayats can take up any work with the approval of the gram sabha as per their felt need
and within available funds. Fifty per cent of the funds earmarked for the gram panchayats are to be utilised
for infrastructure development works in SC/ ST localities. 22.5 per cent resources must be spent on
individual beneficiary schemes meant for SCs/STs out of the resource share of District Panchayat and
Intermediate Panchayats.

Contractors are not permitted to be engaged for execution of any of the works and no middlemen/
intermediate agencies can be engaged for executing works under the scheme.

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SC

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PMEGP PM Employment Guarantee Program

When launched :

2008

Under which Ministry :

Ministry of MSMEs.

KVIC (an organization under MSME ministry) will implement it.

Type :

Self employment only (not wage employment)

Which Areas

Notes

10

It is for both urban and rural areas.

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Details

It is a credit linked subsidy program (i.e. gives credit (loan) at subsidy)

Its aim is to generate employment opportunities through establishment of microenterprises in urban

and rural areas. (again saying that it says establishment of microenterprises).

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission

1.

Finance minister of NDA government in budget 2014-15 announced that it will be launched for Urbanization
of rural areas. i.e. people living in the rural areas will get efficient civic infrastructure and associate
services.

2.

To be specific it will include

Delivering integrated project based infrastructure in the rural areas +

b.

Development of economic activities and skill development.

OR
E

a.

3.

The preferred mode of delivery would be through PPPs

4.

Acc. to fin min Gujarat has demonstrated successfully the Rurban development model.

SAGY (Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana)

This scheme was launched in Oct 2014 by rural development ministry

2.

What to be done in it :

4.

5.

a.

Each MP will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three
villages by 2019.

b.

Thereafter, 5 such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

Ultimate aim :
a.

Holistic development of village across multiple areas such as agriculture, health, education, sanitation,
environment, livelihoods etc (i.e. developing infra, provding basic amenities)

b.

Nurturing values of national pride, patriotism, community spirit, self-confidence, self reliance,
gender equality, local self-government, transparency and accountability in public life, etc

Village development plan :

a.

The scheme will be implemented through a village development plan that would be prepared for
every identified gram panchayat

b.

The planning process in each village will be a participatory exercise coordinated by the District
Collector and the MP will play an active facilitating role in this exercise.

MPLADS :
a.

6.

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3.

SC

1.

The constituency fund, MPLADS, would be available to fill critical financing gaps.

How to do this :
By bringing convergence in the implementation of existing Government schemes and programs
without allocating additional funds or starting new infrastructure or construction schemes.

Notes

a.

11

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Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI)

Government and Non government agencies have taken certain initiatives and implementing many schemes
to promote micro enterprises. However, the efforts seem to be inadequate against the gigantic unemployment
problem. An innovative initiative was taken way back in the year 1982 jointly by Sri Dharmasthala
Manjunatheshwara Educational Trust, Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank to motivate unemployed youth to
take up self-employment as an alternative career.

The unique experiment of building confidence of the youth by developing skill and positive attitude
among them through dedicated training was found effective. The model has proved very successful in
building the morale of the youth and empowering them to set up self-employment ventures in their own
places. The project reported a success rate of 66 per cent.

RUDSETI model was appreciated by Government of India, State Governments, SIDBI, and NABARD.
Replication of this model was recommended to tackle the unemployment problem successfully and
developing entrepreneurship.

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Significant points about RSETIs:

Rural BPL youth will be identified and trained for self-employment.

The trainings offered will be demand driven.

Area in which training will be provided to the trainee will be decided after assessment the candidates
aptitude.

Hand holding support will be provided for assured credit linkage with banks.

Escort services will be provided for at least for two years soas to ensure sustainability of micro enterprise
trainees.

The trainees will be provided intensive short-term residential self-employment training programmes with
free food and accommodation.

It will be set up in each district of the country for basic and skill development training of rural BPL youth
to enable them to undertake micro-enterprises and wage employment.

The Government has approved 215 RSETIs out of which funds have been released to 149. During 200910, approximately 77,000 rural youth (including 54,000 BPL youth) were trained in 99 RSETIs functioning
in the country.

GS

SC

Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM)

The JNNURM, a seven year programme launched in December 2005, provides financial assistance to
cities for infrastructure, housing development, and capacity development.

Mission Statement: The aim is to encourage reforms and fast track planned development of identified
cities. Focus is to be on efficiency in urban infrastructure and service delivery mechanisms, community
participation, and accountability of ULBs/ Parastatal agencies towards citizens.

Objectives of the Mission

Notes

12

1.

The objectives of the JNNURM are to ensure that the following are achieved in the urban sector;

2.

Focused attention to integrated development of infrastructure services in cities covered under the
Mission;

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Establishment of linkages between assetcreation and asset-management through a slew of reforms

for long-term project sustainability;

4.

Ensuring adequate funds to meet the deficiencies in urban infrastructural services;

5.

Planned development of identified cities including peri-urban areas, outgrowths and urban corridors
leading to dispersed urbanisation;

6.

Scale-up delivery of civic amenities and provision of utilities with emphasis on universal access to
the urban poor;

7.

Special focus on urban renewal programme for the old city areas to reduce congestion; and

8.

Provision of basic services to the urban poor including security of tenure at affordable prices,
improved housing, water supply and sanitation, and ensuring delivery of other existing universal
services of the government for education, health and social security.

OR
E

The Mission shall Comprise two Sub-Missions, namely:

1.

Sub-Mission for Urban Infrastructure and Governance: This will be administered by the Ministry
of Urban Development through the Sub- Mission Directorate for Urban Infrastructure and Governance.
The main thrust of the Sub-Mission will be on infrastructure projects relating to water supply and
sanitation, sewerage, solid waste management, road network, urban transport and redevelopment of
old city areas with a view to upgrading infrastructure therein, shifting industrial and commercial
establishments to conforming areas, etc.

2.

Sub-Mission for Basic Services to the Urban Poor: This will be administered by the Ministry of
Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation through the Sub-Mission Directorate for Basic Services
to the Urban Poor. The main thrust of the Sub- Mission will be on integrated development of slums
through projects for providing shelter, basic services and other related civic amenities with a view to
providing utilities to the urban poor.

SC

3.

GS

In addition to this, it also has two further components:

The Sub-Mission for Urban Infrastructure Development of Small & Medium Towns (UIDSSMT)
administered by the Ministry of Urban Development, with a focus on subsuming the schemes of Integrated
Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) and Accelerated Urban Water Supply Programme
(AUWSP) which are already in existence and which aim at planned urban infrastructural improvement in
towns and cities under its purview.

2.

The Sub-Mission for Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) administered by
Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA) was envisaged and brought into effect in
1993-94 in accordance with providing the entire population with safe and adequate water supply facilities.
Program mainly implemented in owns having population less than 20,000 as per 1991 Census.

The objectives of the Mission shall be met through the adoption of the following strategy:

1.

Preparing City Development Plan: Every city will be expected to formulate a City Development Plan
(CDP) indicating policies, programmes and strategies, and financing plans.

2.

Preparing Projects: The CDP would facilitate identification of projects. The Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
/ parastatal agencies will be required to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for undertaking projects
in the identified spheres. It is essential that projects are planned in a manner that optimises the life-cycle
cost of projects. The life-cycle cost of a project would cover the capital outlays and the attendant O&M
costs to ensure that assets are in good working condition. A revolving fund would be created to meet the

Notes

1.

13

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O&M requirements of assets created, over the planning horizon. In order to seek JNNURM assistance,
projects would need to be developed in a manner that would ensure and demonstrate optimisation of the
life-cycle costs over the planning horizon of the project.
Release and Leveraging of Funds: It is expected that the JNNURM assistance would serve to catalyse
the flow of investment into the urban infrastructure sector across the country. Funds from the Central and
State Government will flow directly to the nodal agency designated by the State, as grants-in-aid. The
funds for identified projects across cities would be disbursed to the ULB/Parastatal agency through the
designated State Level Nodal Agency (SLNA) as soft loan or grant-cum-loan or grant. The SLNA / ULBs
in turn would leverage additional resources from other sources.

4.

Incorporating Private Sector Efficiencies: In order to optimise the life-cycle costs over the planning
horizon, private sector efficiencies can be inducted in development, management, implementation and
financing of projects, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

The duration of the Mission was initially set to be between seven years beginning from the year 200506. Evaluation of the experience of implementation of the Mission would be undertaken before the
commencement of Eleventh Five Year Plan and if necessary, the program calibrated suitably.

OR
E

3.

Expected Outcomes of the JNNURM

Modern and transparent budgeting, accounting, financial management systems, designed and adopted
for all urban service and governance functions

2.

City-wide framework for planning and governance will be established and become operational

3.

All urban residents will be able to obtain access to a basic level of urban services

4.

Financially self-sustaining agencies for urban governance and service delivery will be established,
through reforms to major revenue instruments

5.

Local services and governance will be conducted in a manner that is transparent and accountable to
citizens

6.

E-governance applications will be introduced in core functions of ULBs/ Parastatal resulting in

reduced cost and time of service delivery processes.

GS

SC

1.

Affordable Housing In Partnership (AHIP)

The Scheme of Affordable Housing in Partnership aims at operationalising the strategy envisaged in the
National Urban Housing & Habitat Policy (NUHHP) 2007, of promoting various types of public-private
partnerships - of the government sector with the private sector, the cooperative sector, the financial
services sector, the state parastatals, urban local bodies, etc. for realizing the goal of affordable housing
for all. It intends to provide major stimulus to economic activities through affordable housing for the
creation of employment, especially for the construction workers and other urban poor who are likely to
be amongst the most vulnerable groups in recession.

It also targets the creation of demand for a large variety of industrial goods through the multiplier effect
of housing on other economic activities.

This Scheme is a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and takes
into account the experience of implementing Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated
Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) for three years, and the assessment that shortfall in
response from BSUP towns is a factor of the lack of urban land availability for expansion of cities, and

Notes

14

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after consultation with States/UTs who have agreed that the responsibility of making urban land available
at affordable rates must rest with them in order to reduce the acute shortages of housing in urban areas.

The basic aim of the Scheme is to provide stimulus to economic activities through affordable housing
programmes in partnership. Its immediate objective is employment generation to the urban poor, especially
construction workers, where adverse impact of current economic downturn is being experienced.

The scheme will apply mainly to the 65 BSUP cities, where shortages of land for housing are driving
unplanned growth and rising home prices and rentals to unsustainable levels.

Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY)

With an aim of creating a slum-free India, government has launched phase-1 of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY)
to facilitate affordable housing for slum dwellers.

The Centre would provide financial assistance to States willing to assign property rights to slum dwellers
for provision of shelter and basic civic and social services for slum re-development and for creation of
affordable housing stock under the RAY scheme.

The scheme will cover about 250 cities, mostly with population of more than one lakh across the country
by the end of 12th Plan (2017). The scheme will progress at the pace set by the States.

The Centre will bear 50 per cent of the cost of slum re-development. To encourage creation of affordable
housing stock, the existing schemes of Affordable Housing in Partnership and Interest Subsidy Scheme
for Housing the Urban Poor have been dovetailed into RAY.

In order to encourage private sector participation in slum re-development, Central assistance can be used
by the States and cities towards viability gap funding.

Credit enablement of the urban poor and the flow of institutional finance for affordable housing is an
important component of the scheme. The government has agreed to establish a mortgage risk guarantee
fund to facilitate lending the urban poor for housing purposes with an initial corpus of Rs. 1000 crore.

The scheme has been designed on the basis of experience of the Jawaharlal National Urban Renewal
Mission (JNNURM) submission of Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and the Integrated Housing
and Urban Development Programme (HSDP).

Under these schemes, government had sought to take action for inclusive urban growth by enabling redevelopment of slums with basic amenities and decent housing with security of tenure.

GS

SC

OR
E

Bharat Nirman
Bharat Nirman, a programme to build rural infrastructure, was launched by the Government of India in
2005 to be implemented in a period of four years from 2005-06 to 2008-09. It is an important initiative
for reducing the gap between rural and urban areas and improving the quality of life of people in rural
areas.

Phase I of the programme was implemented in the period 2005-06 to 2008-09. Phase II is being implemented
from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

This programme has six components, namely rural housing, irrigation potential, drinking water, rural roads,
electrification, and rural telephony. The targets for these components are as follows:

1.

Water Supply: Cover approximately 55 thousand uncovered habitations and provide safe drinking water
to approximately 2.16 lakh villages affected by poor water quality.

Notes

15

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2.

Housing: Provide additional 1.2 crore houses at the rate of 24 lakh houses each year to be built by funds
allocated to the homeless through Panchayats.

3.

Telecommunication and Information Technology: Increase rural tele-density to 40% and provide broadband
connectivity and Bharat Nirman Seva Kendras to all 2.5 lakh Panchayats. Under the Bharat Nirman
Programme, Rural teledensity of at least 40% by 2014, and Broadband coverage of all 2,50,000 village
panchayats & Setting up of Bharat Nirman Common Service Centers at Panchayat level by 2012 is to
be achieved.

4.

Roads: Provide road connections to remaining 23,000 villages approximately with population of 1000 or
500 in case of hilly or tribal areas.

5.

Electrification:
1.75 crore poor
and to provide
Nirman targets

6.

Irrigation: 6.5 million hectares brought under assured irrigation till 2009. Remaining 3.5 million hectares
to be completed by 2012.

Notes

GS

SC

OR
E

Provide electricity to remaining 40,000 villages approximately and connections to about

households. The revised Bharat Nirman target for RGGVY is to electrify 1 lakh villages
free electricity connections to 175 lakh BPL households by March 2012. The Bharat
for RGGVY have been achieved by 31st December, 2011 well before March, 2012.

16

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RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Developmental Groups
a) SHGs
NABARDS SHG Bank Linkage program
a.

Launched in 1992;

b.

Under this programs SHGs which are registered with NABARD, opens the account in bank and
borrow from it once they have accumulated a base of their own capital + other conditions satisfied.

c.

This Program boasts of over 26 lakh SHGs and 3.9 crore households influencing the lives of over
16 crore poor population.

b) BRLF Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation

OR
E

1.

In Sept 2013, Union Cabinet approved the proposal for setting up of the Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation
(BRLF)

2.

It is as an independent charitable society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860

3.

Aim

SC

1.

to facilitate and upscale civil society action in partnership with Government for transforming livelihoods
and lives of rural households, with an emphasis on women

b.

It will provide financial grants to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to meet their human resource
and institutional costs for upscaling of proven interventions;

c.

invest in institutional strengthening of smaller CSOs and

d.

Capacity building of professional resources working at the grassroots.

GS

a.

4.

Area Even though BRLF will have an India wide mandate, the initial focus of the organization will be on
the Central Indian Tribal Region, centered on blocks having significant tribal population

5.

The society will be constituted as a partnership between Government on the one hand and private sector
philanthropies, private and public sector undertakings (under Corporate Social Responsibility) on the other
hand.

6.

Rs 500 crore will be released for creating the corpus fund of the new Society, in two tranches.

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.

Notes

17

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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 non- SC/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 am ong 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:

SC

OR
E

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, semi-nomadic and de-notified

tribals, families with disabled members and internal refugees, subject to the households being below
poverty line.

GS

Freed bonded labourers

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.

Notes

1.

18

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2. 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

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.

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.

GS

SC

1.

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 scheme,
the term household would include spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters and dependent
parents.

Notes

OR
E

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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.

OR
E

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

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.

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.

SC

1.

GS

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.

Notes

2.

20

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 18-64 years @ Rs. 200 p.m. per beneficiary.

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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).

OR
E

4. CAPART

The Council for Advancement of Peoples 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 Peoples Action for Development India (PADI) and Council for Advancement of
Rural Technology (CART).

The objects for which the Society is set up are:

SC

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;

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;

GS

1.

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 Communitybased Rural Drinking Water Supply.

Notes

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The key elements of this programme are:

Demand-driven and community participation approach,

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:

1.

Gram Panchayat shall convene a Gram Sabha Meeting where the Drinking Water Supply Scheme of
Peoples 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. Nirmal Gram Puraskar

OR
E

1.

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:

GS

SC

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

Notes

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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.

Notes

GS

SC

OR
E

23