Poverty Alleviation

Programmes in India
since 1950s-A Critical
Analysis
 CONTENTS:
I. Introduction.
II. Causes of poverty
III. Major poverty alleviation programmes
IV. Analysis of the programmes
V. Data for Expenditure allocation under major
programmes.

 Subject :Indian Economy

Submitted by : Nancy Sebastian(09-Pec-031)

Submitted to : Prof. Amaldhas

INTRODUCTION:
Since the 1950s, the Indian government and non-governmental organizations have initiated
several programs to alleviate poverty. However, As of 2010, more than 37% of India’s
population of 1.35 billion still lives below the poverty. According to a World Bank estimate
by 2015, an estimated 53 million people will still live in extreme poverty.

CAUSES of poverty in India

 Caste explanations of poverty fail to account for the urban/rural divide. Using the UN
definition of poverty, 65% of rural forward castes are below the poverty line.

 Over-reliance on agriculture. There is a surplus of labour in agriculture. Farmers are a

large vote bank and use their votes to resist reallocation of land for higher-income
industrial projects. While services and industry have grown at double digit figures,
agriculture growth rate has dropped from 4.8% to 2%. About 60% of the population
depends on agriculture whereas the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is about
18%.
 High population growth rate, although demographers generally agree that this is a
symptom rather than cause of poverty.
 High Illiteracy
 Regional inequalities
 Protectionist policies pursued till 1991 that prevented high foreign investment .

Poverty reduction has been an important goal of development policy since the inception of
planning in India.

MAJOR ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMMES IN INDIA

INDIRA AWAAS YOJANA :

The objective of IAY is to provide financial assistance for construction/ upgradation of

houses to BPL rural households belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
freed bonded labourers, non-
SC/ST rural households, widows and physically handicapped persons living in the rural areas.
The scheme is funded on a cost-sharing basis of 75:25 between the Centre and the States.

During 2008-09, against the total allocation of Rs. 5,645.77 crore earmarked for release to
DRDAs under IAY for construction of 21.27 lakh houses, Rs8,795.79 crore including Rs.
3,050 crore given under stimulus package has been released till March 31, 2009 and 21.05
lakh houses had been constructed during 2008-09.
An outlay of Rs.5400.00 lakhs has been projected as State Share for the 11th Five Year Plan
(2007-12). The actual expenditure of Rs.632.07 lakhs has been incurred during 2008-09.
The outlay of Rs.700.00 lakhs during 2009-10 is anticipated to be utilized in full. An amount
of Rs.1000.00 lakhs is proposed for theAnnual Plan 2010-11 as a State’s share.
From 1999-2000, 80% of the total allocation is being utilized for the construction of new
houses and the remaining 20% for conversion of unserviceable kutcha houses into pucca
houses.
The target for the 11th Plan is to provide 45222 new houses and to upgrade 24872 numbers
of houses. While 4309 new houses and 1310 for upgradation has been achieved during 2008-
09, the target of 8363 numbers of new houses and 4800 for upgradation during the annual
Plan 2009-10 is anticipated to be achieved. During the annual Plan 2010-11, it is targetted to
provide 10870 numbers of new houses and 6240 for upgradation.

NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME :

It was initially called the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) but was
renamed to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emploment Guarantee Scheme on 2
October 2009.
The original version of the Act was passed with Rs 60/ day as the minimum wage that needs
to be paid under NREGA. However a lot of states in India already have wage regulations
with minimum wages set at more than 100 per day. NREGA's minimum wage has since been
changed to 100 per day.

NREGS, which was launched on February 2, 2006, in 200 most backward districts in the first
phase, was expanded to 330 districts in the second phase during 2007-08. The remaining 266
districts were notified on September 28, 2008, and the scheme has now been extended to all
the districts of the country.

More than 4.47 crore households were provided employment in 2008-09. This is a significant
jump over the 3.39 crore households covered under the scheme during 2007-08. Out of the
215.63 crore person-days created under the
scheme during this period, 29 per cent and 25 per cent were in favour of SC and ST
population, respectively and 48 per cent of the total persondays created went in favour of
women.

An allocation of Rs. 30,100 crore has been made in the interim budget for 2009-10 as against
Rs. 16,000 crore in 2008-09 for NREGS. the public works schemes' completed product (e.g.
water conservation, land development, afforestation, provision of irrigation systems,
construction of roads, or flood control) is vulnerable to being taken by over wealthier sections
of society.
Further concerns include the fact that local government corruption leads to the exclusion of
specific sections of society ,as high Rs 50 are paid in order to receive the job cards.In Gujarat,
a scam of Rs 10 million has taken place.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, 2004 (NREGP):-

For the 11th Plan 2007-12, an outlay of Rs. 8,000.00 lakhs has been projected based on the
Planning Commission’s instructions. The actual expenditure during 2008-09 was Rs.
923.48.00 lakhs. The approved outlay during 2009-10 is Rs. 750.00 lakhs, against which Rs.
1500.00 lakhs is anticipated to be utilized. An amount of Rs. 2250.00 lakhs is proposed for
the Annual Plan 2010-11.

This programme was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in

compliance with the provisions of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2004
passed by the Parliament. The sharing pattern of the scheme between the Centre and the State
is approximately on 90:10 basis.

The objective of the programme is to enhance the livelihood security of the people in rural
areas by generating wage employment through works that develop the infrastructure base of
that area. The choice and location of works are made after the identification of causes of
chronic poverty like drought, deforestation, soil erosion.
The programme envisages to ensure guaranteed employment of not less than 100 days in a
financial year to adult members of rural household in the rural areas who are willing to
volunteer and undertake unskilled manual works.
For the 11th Plan period, a target of 461.05 lakhs no. of mandays have been
fixed. The achievement during 2008-09 was 86.31 lakhs mandays and a target of 187.50
lakhs mandays during Annual Plan 2009-10 is expected to be achieved. The target fixed for
2010-11 is 243.75 lakhs mandays.

SWARNJAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA :

SGSY was launched in April 1999 after restructuring of the Integrated Rural Development
Programme (IRDP) and allied programmes. It is the only self-employment programme
currently being for the rural poor.  
• Target: Rural poor with SCs/STs accounting for 50 per cent, women 40 per cent and
the disabled 3 per cent of the beneficiaries.

The scheme is being implemented on cost sharing basis of 75:25 between the Centre and
states. Up to March 2009, 34 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) had been formed and 120.89 lakh
swarozgaris have been assisted with a total outlay of Rs. 27,183.03 crore.
The Projected Outlay for this sector during the 11th plan is Rs. 5500.00 lakhs as State’s share
under the funding pattern of 90:10 w.e.f 15-09-2008. An expenditure of Rs. 236.43 lakhs has
been incurred during 2008-09. The amount of Rs.200.00 lakhs approved during 2009-10 is
expected to be utilized in full. The funding pattern for the scheme is 90:10 since 15.09.08.
An outlay of Rs. 300.00 lakhs is proposed for the Annual Plan (2010-11) to meet the
State Share of 10%.

The objective of the programme is to bring the poor families above the
poverty line by providing them with income generating assets through bank credit and
Government subsidy. Existence of suitable technical and economic infrastructure is essential
for the success of the programme. For the Eleventh Plan (2007–12), infrastructural
development will be given due priority. Creation of more facilities and services are necessary
for enhancement of their income related economic activities which will be beneficial to them.

As against the Eleventh Plan Target for assisting of 7500 SHGs and 4000
individual Swarozgaries, the actual achievement during the Annual Plan 2008-09 was 527
SHGs and 2 individual Swarozgaries. While a total of 1875 SHGs and 1250 Individual
Swarozgaries is anticipated to be achieved during the Annual Plan 2009-10, a target for the
Annual Plan 2010-11 is fixed at 2440 SHGs and 1625 Individual Swarozgaries.

SWARNA JAYANTI SHAHARI ROZGAR YOJANA :

Implementation of SJSRY begins from 1st December 1997 under funding pattern of Centre
and State in 75:25 basis.

The Government has recently revamped the SJSRY with effect from April 1,
2009. The scheme provides gainful employment to the urban unemployed and
underemployed poor, by encouraging the setting up of selfemployment
ventures by the urban poor and also by providing wage employment and
utilizing their labour for construction of socially and economically useful public assets. The
revamped SJSRY has five components:

(a) the Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP)

which targets individual urban poor for setting up of micro enterprises; (b) the Urban Women
Self-help Programme (UWSP) which targets urban poor women self-help groups for setting
up of group enterprises and providing them assistance through a revolving fund for thrift and
credit activities; (c) Skill Training for Employment Promotion amongst Urban Poor
(STEP-UP) which targets the urban poor for imparting quality training so as to enhance their
employability for self-employment or better salaried employment; (d)the Urban Wage
Employment Programme (UWEP) which seeks to assist the urban poor by utilizing their
labour for the construction of socially and economically useful public assets, in towns having
population less than 5 lakh as per the 1991 census; and (e) the Urban Community
Development Network (UCDN) which seeks to assist the urban poor in organizing
themselves into self-managed community structures so as to gain collective strength to
address the issues of poverty facing them and participate in effective implementation
of urban poverty-alleviation programmes.

With regard to the number of beneficiaries during 2008-09, 9,47,390 urban poor were
assisted to set up individual/group micro enterprises and 14,84,209 urban poor were imparted
skill training under SJSRY as per the progress reports received up to the end of March 31,
2009.

Budget allocation for the SJSRY scheme for 2009-10 is Rs 515.00 crore of which Rs 363.12
crore had been utilized till December 31, 2009. During 2009-10, as reported by States/UTs,
28,613 urban poor have been assisted to set up individual enterprises, 13,453 urban poor
women have been assisted in setting up group enterprises, 27,463 urban poor women have
been assisted through a revolving fund for thrift and credit activities and 85,185 urban poor
have been imparted skill training. The fund allocation for the scheme was Rs. 515 crore
during 2008-09 and Rs. 540.67 crore has been released up to March 31, 2009.

JAWAHAR GRAM SAMRIDHI YOJANA (JGSY)

The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) has been recast as the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana
(JGSY) with effect from 1.4.1999 .The funds are directly released to the Gram Panchayats by
the DRDAs/Zilla Parishads.

There is 75:25 funding between the Centre and the States. There is creation of demand driven
community village infrastructure including durable assets at the village level and assets to
enable the rural poor to increase the opportunities for sustained employment.

The secondary objective is generation of supplementary employment for the unemployed

poor in the rural areas. The wage employment under the programme is given to Below
Poverty Lines (BPL) families.

During 1999-2000, 5.84 lakh works were completed as against a target of 8.57 lakh works.
An expenditure of Rs.1841.80 crore was incurred during 1999-2000 as against a total
allocation of Rs.2209.24 crore. A Central outlay of Rs.1650.00 crore has been earmarked for
JGSY for the year 2000-01.

EMPLOYMENT ASSURANCE SCHEME (EAS):

It was launched on 2nd October, 1993 1772 identified backward blocks of 257 districts
situated in drought prone, desert, tribal and hill areas where the Revamped Public
Distribution System (RPDS) was in operation. Presently, being implemented in all the 5448
rural blocks of the country.

The EAS was restructured w.e.f. 1999-2000 to make it the single wage employment
programme. The scheme has become allocative scheme instead of demand driven and a fixed
annual outlay is to be provided to the States.

There is 75:25 between the Centre and States. There is creation of additional wage
employment opportunities during the period of acute shortage of wage employment through
manual work

Target: rural poor living below the poverty line.  

The secondary objective is the creation of durable community, social and economic assets for
sustained employment and development. A maximum of two adults per family are provided
wage employment. Preference is given to SCs/STs and parents of child labour withdrawn
from hazardous occupations who are below the poverty line.The programme is implemented
through the Zilla Parishads (DRDAs in those States where Zilla Parishads do not exist). 

During 1999-2000, a total allocation of Rs.2431.46 crore was made under EASan expenditure
of Rs.1998.26 crore was incurred as against the target of 4091.63 lakh .A Central outlay of
Rs.1300.00 crore has been provided for EAS for 2000-01.

NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (NSAP)

Launched on 15th August, 1995 .100 per cent Centrally Sponsored Scheme .It provides social
assistance benefit to poor households in the case of old age, death of primary breadwinner
and maternity. Based on recommendations received from M/o Rural Development, an
amount of Rs.4442.24 crore was released to the State Governments during 2008-09. An
amount of Rs.4260.54 crore has been released in 2009-10 (upto 31.12.2009).

The main features of the three components of the NSAP namely

National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)

Old age pension of Rs.75 per month, per beneficiary is provided to person of 65 years and
above who is a destitute in the sense of having little or no regular means of subsistence from
his/her own sources of income or through support from family members or other sources.

National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

A sum of Rs.10,000 is provided in the case death of primary breadwinner due to natural or
accidental causes. The family benefit is paid to such surviving member of the household of
deceased who, after local enquiry, is determined to be the Head of the household.

National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS)

A lump sum cash assistance of Rs.500 is provided to pregnant women of households below
the poverty line up to the first two live births provided they are of 19 years of age and above.
The maternity benefit is to be disbursed in one instalment, 12-8 weeks prior to the delivery.

ANNAPURNA

Launched in 1999-2000, It provides food security to those indigent senior citizens who are
not covered under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and who have no income
of their own and none to take care of them in the village.  `Annapurna’ will provide 10 kg of
food grains per month free of cost to all such persons who are eligible for old age pensions
but are presently not receiving it and whose children are not residing in the same village. The
Gram Panchayats would be required to identify, prepare and display a list of such persons
after giving wide publicity.
A Central allocation of Rs.100.00 crore has been earmarked for the scheme in 2000-01.

During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) the above plan schemes like
Annapurna Yojana, Antyodaya Anna Yojna, Mukhaya Mantri Khadyan Sahayata
Yojna (BPL scheme), subside on domestic LPG, Distribution of iodised salt at
subsidized rate to BPL families, Godown construction, establishment of
Jharkhand State Food Corporation Limited, establishment Village Grain Banks
will continue while some new schemes enhancing of PDS commission on
Kerosene oil and APL foodgrains taken up.

Achievement of 2008-09 and 2009-10

• Persons benefit under Annapurna Yojna - 2.00 lakh
• Persons benefit under Antyodaya Yojna - 9.179 lakh
• Distribution of foodgrains to BPL families - 14.761 lakh
• Distribution of free LPG Chulha to BPL families - 0.017 lakh
• Distribution of Iodized salt at subsidized rate to
BPL families - 23.94 lakh
• Construction of Village Grain Bank - 583 no.
• Construction of Godown - 123 no.
• Subsidy on domestic LPG Cylinder to families - 5.00 lakh
• Distribution of Levy sugar to BPL families - 23.94 lakh

DISTRICT RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (DRDAS)

They have traditionally been the principal organ at the district level to oversee the
implementation of different anti-poverty programmes. Since its inception in 1980, the
administrative costs of the DRDAs were met by way of setting apart a share of the allocation
for each programme.

However, over the years, while new poverty alleviation programmes were introduced, there
was no uniformity amongst the programmes with reference to administrative costs and it was
found that the provisions available for DRDAs were not sufficient even to meet the minimum
costs.

A new Centrally Sponsored Scheme for `Strengthening of DRDA Administration’ was

launched with effect from April 1, 1999 with funding on a 75:25 basis between the Centre
and States. Administrative cost per district applicable from 1999-2000 has been fixed as
given below:

• Category A District (less than 6 blocks) Rs.46.00 lakhs

• Category B District (6-10 blocks) Rs.57.00 lakhs

• Category C District (11-15 blocks) Rs.65.00 lakhs

• Category D District (more than 15 blocks) Rs.67.00 lakhs .

 It facilitates the implementation of the programmes, to supervise/oversee and

monitor the progress, receive and send progress reports and account for the funds. The
DRDAs are also entrusted the task of developing the capacity to build synergies among
different agencies involved to bring about effective results. 

During the year 2000-01, an outlay of Rs.220.00 crore has been allocated for the
Strengthening of DRDA administration

KRISHI SHRAMIK SAMAJIK SURAKSHA SOJANA:

Launched on July 2001.It is a Social security benefits to agricultural workers in age group of
18 to 60 yrs.

FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAM

Launched on Feb 2001.Its objective is augmenting food security through wage employment
in drought affected rural areas in 8 states: Gujarat Maharashtra M.P Orissa Rajasthan
Uttaranchal.To provide appropriate quantity of food grains free of cost to each of the drought
affected states as an additionality under the scheme.Wages by state govt to be paid partly in
kind and partly in cash.Workers are paid the balance of wages in cash such that they are
assured of the notified minimum wages.Program extended upto march 31, 2002 in respect of
notified “natural calamity affected districts”

JAWAHAR ROZGAR YOJANA :

Launched on April 1989.It was an integration of NREP and RLEGP.Its objective are
Generation of employment opportunities for under and unemployed in rural areas,Creation
of productive community assets,Improvement in overall quality of life in villages.

Target: BPL families

Wage employment to atleast 1 member of each family for 50-100 days a year, at a workplace
near his residence.Village panchayat allots projects to reach the target efficiently.Since april1,
1999 it has been recast as jawahar gram samridhi yojana.

MINIMUM NEEDS PROGRAM

It was introduced in 5th five yr plan. Apart from basic necessity of food clothing and shelter
its essentially an investment in human resource development, education ,rural health, rural
water supply, rural roads, rural electrification, housing assistance to landless rural labourers,
environment improvement of urban slums, nutrition
PRIME MINISTERS INTEGRATED URBAN POVERTY ERADICATION
PROGRAM(PMIUPEP)

Inroduced in 1995-96.Its objective are Effective achievement of social sector goals,

Community empowerment, Employment generation, Skill upgradation, Shelter
upgradation ,Environment improvement with a multi pronged and long term strategy

PRADHAN MANTRA GRAMODAYA YOJANA:

Launched in 2000-01 .It is basically Village level development in 5 areas health, primary
education drinking water housing and rural roads with overall objective of improving the
quality of life in rural areas.

a)Pradhan mantri gram sadak yojana:

Launched on December 25, 2000 as a 100 per cent Centrally-sponsored scheme with the
primary objective to provide all-weather connectivity to all the eligible unconnected
habitations in the rural areas. Up to March 2009, a total length of about 2,14,281.45
kilometres of roadworks has been completed with cumulative expenditure of Rs. 46,807.21
crore.

b) Grameen Awaas

A sustainable habitat development at village level to meet growing housing needs of rural
poor.

c)Rural drinking water project

A min 25% of total allocation is to be utilised by respective state/UTs on projects for water
conservation, water harvesting, recharge and sustainability of drinking water in areas under
desert development program/drought prone area program.

NEHRU ROZGAR YOJANA.

Launched on oct 11,1989:

Urban counterpart of JRY. It aims at creating 1 million jobs annually, Opportunities for self
employment as well as generate wage employment.

Target: Urban poor(BPL)

It has been merged into Swaran jayanti shahri rozgar yojana (golden jubilee urban
employment scheme), 1 dec 1997.Setting up to self employment ventures by urban poor.
Wage employment through creation of durable assests .A CSS of 75:25.During 2001-02
allocation of 168 cr has been provided for various components of this program.
PRIME MINISTERS ROZGAR YOJANA OCT 2, 1993

Education unemployment youth. Coverage: rural and urban area.Employment by setting up

micro enterprise in industry service and business.

SAMPOORNA GRAMEEN ROZGAR YOJANA:

Sep 2001.It is a wage employment scheme in rural areas and also food security. It involves
creation of durable community, social-economic assets.A budget of Rs. 10,000 crore has been
allocated for the scheme, which includes provision of 50 lakh tonnes of food grains. Again
the investment is shared between the centre and the states in the 75–25 ratio.EAS+ Jawahar
Gram Samridhi Yojana integrated with the scheme from 1 April 2002.
An amount of Rs.10,500.00 lakhs has been projected for the Eleventh Plan as State’s share.
The actual expenditure during 2007-08 was Rs. 386.36 lakhs. No outlay was earmarked
during 2008-09 since the scheme has been merged with NREGP.

SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR URBAN POOR(SESUP)

Launched in 1sep,1986. Max loan of Rs 5000 is given to self employed like Rickshaw
pullers, cobblers, carpenters, washerman, shoeshine boys, newspapaer sellers, welders,
fabricators, scooter mechanics, etc

VALMIKI AMBEDKAR AWAAS YOJANA

Launched in Dec 2001.It Facilitates construction and upgradation of dwelling units for slum
dwellers and provides a healthy and a enabling urban environment through community toilets
under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, a component of the scheme.A CSS of 50:50.Upto 31 dec 2005
866.16 crore had been released as central subsidy for construction upgradation of 4,11,478
dwelling units and 64,247 toilet seats under the scheme.

For 2005-06 out of the tentative central allocation of 249 cr upto 31 dec 2005 an amount of
96.4cr had been released covering 60,335 dwelling units and 381 toilet seats.

ANTYODAYA ANNA YOJANA

Launched in 25 dec 2001.1 crore poorest families out of the BPL families covered in TPDS
are identified.25kgs of foodgrains were made available to each eligible family at a highly
subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice.Quantity enhanced from 25
to 35kgs with effect from April 2002 for 1 year upto march 31, 2003. The scheme has been
further expanded in June 2003 by adding another 50 lakh BPL families. Under the scheme,
during 2002-03, against an allocation of 41.27 lakh tonnes of foodgrain, 35.39 lakh tonnes
have been lifted by State Governments, and during 2003-04, 38.24 lakh tonnes of food-grain
have been lifted against an allocation of 45.56 lakh tonnes
INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

Launched on 2 oct,1980 in all 5004 blocks of the country

Improve means of livelihood, Raising standard of living level of income and consumption,
Increasing production and productivity, Creating employment opportunities.

Target: SC ST, small and marginal farmers and BPL.

Outright subsidies and loans are given to the target .To remove multiplicity of different
programs operated through multiple agencies. A CSS of 50:50.

IRDP was quite successful in terms of providing incremental income to poor families.
However, the number of households able to cross the poverty line was relatively small. It
may be, partly due to the low levels of initial investment

TRAINING OF RURAL YOUTH FOR SELF EMPLOYMENT (TRYSEM)

Introduced in 1979 to provide technical skills and to upgrade the traditional skills of rural
youth belonging to families below the poverty line, to enable the rural youth to take up self-
employment ventures in different spheres across sectors by giving them assistance under
IRDP. In 1987 the scope of the programme was enlarged to include wage employment also
for the trained beneficiaries.

During the Seventh Plan about 10 lakh youth were trained under TRYSEM, of which 47 per
cent took up self- employment and 12 per cent wage employment. During 1990-91 the
number of youth trained were 2.6 lakhs, of which 70 per cent got employed.

DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS (DWCRA)

In 1982-83 an exclusive scheme for women was launched in the IRDP, as a pilot project, in
50 districts. In the Seventh Plan it was extended to more districts and at the end of the
Seventh Plan period it was in operation in 161 districts. A group of women are granted
assistance. to take up viable economic activities with Rs. 15,000 as a onetime grant to be used
as a revolving fund.

In the Seventh Plan about 28,000 groups could be formed against the target of 35,000 with A
membership of 4.6 lakh women. The role of voluntary organisations would be crucial in
organising women to take up group- based economic activities which are viable within the
context of an area development plan. Experiments in some States to form women's thrift and
credit societies first, and then start them on economic work have been successful.
NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME (NREP)

The entitlement of each State to the Central fund was based on the incidence of poverty, and
the population of agricultural labourers, marginal farmers. On a 50:50 basis. A concurrent
evaluation of NREP revealed that several types of assets were created, with 24.6 per cent
expenditure on rural roads and 19.1 per cent on social forestry. Construction was a main
activity with 11.9 per cent on schools, 12.1 per cent on houses and 6.4 per on panchayat
ghars; 6.5 per cent was directed to minor irrigation and 3.3 per cent to wells for drinking
water.

RURAL LANDLESS EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE PROGRAMME (RLEGP)

This was a totally Centrally financed programme introduced in 1983. It was limited only to
the landless, with guaranteed employment of 100 days.

In the Seventh Plan, Rs.2412 crores were spent and 115 crore mandays were generated with
an average expenditure of Rs.21.00 per manday. Only 16 per cent had been spent on social
forestry but 22 per cent had been spent on housing,with over 5 lakh houses created for SC/ST
and freed bonded labourers. Rural roads accounted for 22 per cent while other construction,
minor irrigation, soil conservation etc. each had a small share.

COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT (CAD) PROGRAMME

Launched in 1974-75 .Improving the utilization of created irrigation potential and optimizing
agriculture production and productivity from irrigated agriculture through a multi-
disciplinary team under an Area Development Authority.Initially, 60 major and medium
irrigation projects were taken up under the CAD Programme, covering a Culturable
Command Area (CCA) of about 15.00 million hectare.

From 1974-75 till now 314 projects with a CCA of 28.95 Million have been included under
the programme. There are now 136 projects under implementation. The programme was
restructured and renamed as Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM)
Programme w.e.f. 1-4-2004. The scheme is now being implemented as a State sector scheme
during the XI Five Year Plan (2008-09 to 2011-12).

THE  HILL  AREA  DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAMME, 

Introduced  in  Nilgiris  District  since  the  year  1975.It involves eco-restoration, eco-
development and eco preservation,to develop land use planning for forest areas to cultivable
areas to conserve soil, water and increase productivity of land, economic upliftment of tribals
in an isolated settlements and also to ensure peoples participation in all developmental
activities. This translated on the field consist of the following components:

1. To preserve and conserve sholas and grasslands of Nilgiris.

2. Development of landuse plan for forest area as well as cultivated areas.

3. Conserve soil and water to increase productivity of theland by using vegetative methods
and changing the cropping pattern.

4. Promote non-land based economic activities to uplift the poor people and to ensure
environment Protection.

5. Economic up-liftment of tribals in isolated locations, settlements.

6. To evolve a comprehensive human settlement policy and discourage migration.

7. "Area based Approach" adopted and integrated plans to be prepared for all watersheds and
high priority watershed shall be chosen for treatment.

8. Use of scientific interventions will be encouraged i.e. Application of Remote sensing, etc.,

9. Promotion of Non-Conventional Energy sources i.e. Solar, Hydro, Bio-gas, etc.,

The need of integrating the sectoral activities in selected as well as other watersheds are also
carried out.

THE INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE DISTRICT PROGRAMME (IADP)

It was launched as the first major experiment in intensive agriculture development in the year
1960. Increase in agriculture production through adoption of a package of improved practices
and to suggest successful and adoptable innovations, approaches and procedures which could
be adopted in similar areas of the country.The selection of favourable areas maximum
irrigation facilities and minimum of natural hazards,providing simultaneously all the essential
elements of production such as adequate supply of fertilizers credit etc.

SFDA(SMALL FARMER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY)

In operation since 1971 covering 1818 blocks in the country.To identify small farmers and to
implement suitable measures for them.Arrange services and supplies of various inputs
required by the small farmer. Arrange for irrigation in the area. To help individual farmers in
securing loans from cooperative banks for sinking wells on their own. Help them in securing
facilities of storage, transportation, marketing and processing of their produce. To provide
improved seeds, fertilizers and other inputs at the right time from the local sales depots of
cooperatives, government or private retailers. Provision of easy and cheap credit to small
farmers on all productive acititvities.25% of the total amount is sanctioned as subsidy and
rest as loans. Promote activities such as digging wells and private tubewells.

SFDA gives out grants at 6% and 3% rate of interest to primary credit societies and
cooperative banks respectively, on additional finance given to small farmers and land
development at 3% for loans advanced to small farmers.
MFLDA (MARGINAL FARMER AND LANLESS AGRICULTURISTS
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY)

It was as set up along with SFDA. To identify marginal farmers, investigate their problem
and formulate economic problems for providing gainful employment to participants, promote
rural industries, to evolve adequate, institutional, financial and administrative arrangements
for implementing various programs, to promote creation of common facilities for production,
processing, storage and marketing, to evaluate the program from time to time. It assists other
insitutions like cooperative societies .

However with prior approval of the Government, it can undertake organisation of labor
contract agencies, construct minor irrigation work,establish common facilities like
godowns,cattle-feed mixing units,etc.

TRIBAL AREA DEVELOPMENT

Launched in Fifth five year plan. Separate tribal sub-plans were formulated in 16 states, 2
union territories .They were divided into 180 Integrated Tribal Development Project for
operational purposes (ITDP).For the scheduled tribes, because of their population
concentration in specific area, the instrument of sub plans was developed to ensure flow of
benefit from all sectoral programs and to provide integrated delivery of service in the tribal
areas.

Achievements: 5.72 lakh hectares of additional area was brought under minor irrigation, 1.68
lakh hectares under soil conservation, about 8000 hectares of land was brought under
horticulture, more than 8ooo villages received water supplied and 6528 villages were
electrified.

MID DAY MEAL

It makes provision of lunch free of cost to school-children on all working days,protecting

children from classroom hunger, increasing school enrolment and attendance, improved
socialisation among children belonging to all castes, addressing malnutrition, and social
empowerment through provision of employment to women. 12 cr children are so far covered
under the Mid-day Meal Scheme, which is the largest school lunch programme in the world.
Allocation for this programme has been enhanced from Rs 3010 cr to Rs 4813 cr in 2006-
2007.

Naandi Foundation, is one of the largest and fastest growing social sector organisations in
India working to make poverty history. In its effort to eradicate poverty it has been working
in the fields of Child rights, Education, Sustainable livelihoods, Midday meal and Safe
Drinking water since last decade.Naandi in partnership with the Government of Rajasthan
(GoR) started the Hunger-Free programme on 1 May 2006 by providing cooked meals to the
poorest of the poor at a very nominal price apart from its Midday meal programme.

INTEGRATED WASTELAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (IWDP):-

The Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) is funded by the
Ministry of Rural Development Department, Govt. of India for 112 nos. of projects, with a
funding pattern in the ratio of 91.67: 8.33 between the Centre and the State.
IWDP is implemented through watershed approach as per the stipulated guidelines. The
typical watershed covers about 500 hectares of area of a
village and the cost ranges from Rs.3000/- per hectare to Rs.5000/- per hectare. Earlier,
IWDP was implemented by the C & R.D Department, but the programme was transferred
for implementation to the Soil & Water Conservation Department since 2005-06.

There are 112 projects under Integrated Wastelands Development Programme

(IWDP) for treatment of 439 micro Watersheds covering a total area of 221225 hectare at a
total cost of Rs. 13053.28 Lakhs for which sharing will be @ 91.67% by Government of
India and 8.33% by State Government i.e., Rs. 12002.22 lakhs Central Share and Rs. 1051.06
lakhs State Share respectively.
The expenditure incurred during 2007-08 is Rs. 800.27 lakh for Central Share
and Rs. 100.00 lakhs for State Share and the expenditure during 2008-09 is Rs. 1055.40 lakhs
and Rs. 127.10 lakhs for Central Share and State Share respectively. The anticipated
expenditure during 2009-2010 is Rs. 1873.16 Lakhs and Rs. 200.00 Lakhs for Central Share
and State Share respectively.

The proposed outlay for 2010-11 is Rs. 2475.00 Lakhs for Central Share and Rs. 250.00
lakhs for State Share.The total amount received from the Government of India during 2007-
08 was Rs. 1055.42 lakhs, which includes an amount of Rs. 569.27 lakhs for 2006-07. During
2008-09, the Department has received only Rs. 1135.12 lakhs from the Govt. of India and an
amount of Rs.816.45lakhs was already released during 2009-10 till date. It is expected to
receive more before the end of the financial year.

The physical achievement during 2008-09 is as follows:-

1. Arable Land Treatment:. 5809.19 ha
2. Non- Arable Land Treatment.: 3464.50 ha
3. Land Treatment. : 2358 nos.:
4. Productive System :1068 nos.
5. Nursery seedlings :1618126 nos.
ANALYSIS:

• Poor targeting is reflected in large number of non-poor and other non eligible
beneficiaries.

• Leakages due to inappropriate works and inefficient implementation and corruption is

high.

• Quality of assets provided and created is poor and their impact on income level is
dubious.

• Assets and schemes are not appropriate to the needs of and potentials of particular
region or group.

• Lack of accountability remains a major problem. The structure ,content and funding
remain mostly in the hands of central government.

• There is considerable overlap as well as between them and development included

under normal state plans

• There is rigidity of central guidelines for fragmentation and duplication of schemes.

• Coordination is difficult so is monitoring of accomplishments in terms of efficacy of

targeting.

• Programs tend to emphasise loans and subsidies and provision of current wage
employment rather than ensuring that they are used to augment productive capacity
for achieving a higher level of employment and income on a sustained basis.

• Much scope for patronage and corruption in selection of beneficiaries and distribution
of loans.

• Under PDS, large parts of the country donot have a distribution network to reach the
supplies where they are most needed.and those which have networks there the
coverage is not limited to poor.

• scope for improving the efficacy of poverty alleviation programs by better targeting,
reduce wastage and corruption, making programs more meaningful in terms of
relevance to local needs and priorities, creating institutional conditions for greater
accountability.

• Focus should be on rationalising the approach, organisation and priorities of the

PA(poverty alleviation) programs rather than on cutting back the outlays.

• The no of PA programs can and should be drastically reduced and streamlined to

minimise duplication and fragmentation.
 EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION for various poverty alleviation and development
programs in 2010:-

1. Employment Guarantee Scheme : Rs. 40100 Crore

2. Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana : Rs. 2984 Crore (This also includes
Rs.100 crore for Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, a Sub-Component of
National Rural Livelihood Mission)
3. Indira Awas Yojna : Rs. 10000 Crore
4. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana : Rs. 12000 Crore
5. National Rural Drinking Water Programme : Rs. 9000 Crore
6. Total Sanitation Campaign: 1580 Crore
7. Integrated Watershed Management Programme: Rs. 2458 Crore
8. National Agricultural Insurance Scheme: Rs. 950 Crore
9. Integrated Oilseeds, Oil Palm, Pulses & Maize Development: Rs. 500 Crore
10. Agricultural Research and Education: Rs. 2006 Crore
11. Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme: Rs. 906 Crore
12. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Rs. 15,000 Crore
13. National Programme of Mid Day Meals in Schools: Rs. 9440 Crore
14. Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti: Rs. 1385 Crore
15. Adult Education and Skill Development: Rs. 1167 Crore
16. Integrated Child Development Services: Rs. 8700 Crore
17. Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana: Rs. 390 Crore
18. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls: Rs. 1000 Crore
19. Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana: Rs. 5500 Crore
20. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana(Ministry of Panchayati Raj) : 50 Crore