| The article sheds light on various strategies
and programs undertaken for the purpose of rural development in
India. These strategies and programs constitute the “five
year plan”, for the purpose of simplicity the measures undertaken
have been categorized in broad groups and then elaborated upon.
In the end, an ideal model of rural development, which is in contrast
to the current model, is proposed.
The rural economy, as much as urban economy, is an integrated part
of the overall Indian economy. Any talk of overall development without
rural development, particularly in a country where three-quarters
of people below the poverty line reside in rural areas, is flawed.
Poverty is indeed a global issue. Its eradication is considered
integral to humanity’s quest for sustainable development.
Reduction of poverty in India, is, therefore, vital for the attainment
of international goals.
Poverty alleviation has been one of the guiding principles of the
planning process in India. This can be substantiated by the fact
that anti-poverty programs have been internalized in the (particularly
the ninth) five year plan. This article sheds light on the various
“strategies and programs” that form the instruments
of the plan.
Integrated Rural Development Program (IRBD)
First introduced in 1978-79, IRBD has provided assistance to rural
poor in the form of subsidy and bank credit for productive employment
opportunities through successive plan periods. Subsequently, Training
of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), Development of Women
and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Supply of Improved Tool Kits
to Rural Artisans (SITRA) and Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY) were introduced
as sub-programs of IRDP to take care of the specific needs of the
rural population.
Wage Employment Programs
Important components of the anti-poverty strategy, Wage Employment
Programs have sought to achieve multiple objectives. They not only
provide employment opportunities during lean agricultural seasons
but also in times of floods, droughts and other natural calamities.
They create rural infrastructure which supports further economic
activity. These programs also put an upward pressure on market wage
rates by attracting people to public works programs, thereby reducing
labour supply and pushing up demand for labour. It encompasses National
Rural Employment Program (NREP) and Rural Landless Employment Guarantee
Program (RLEGP) which were initially part of the Sixth and Seventh
five year Plans.
Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)
EAS was launched in October 1993 covering 1,778 drought-prone, desert,
tribal and hill area blocks. It was later extended to all the blocks
in 1997-98. The EAS was designed to provide employment in the form
of manual work in the lean agricultural season. The works taken
up under the program were expected to lead to the creation of durable
economic and social infrastructure and address the felt-needs of
the people.
Food for Work Program
The Food for Work program was started in 2000-01 as a component
of the EAS in eight notified drought-affected states of Chattisgarh,
Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Maharastra
and Uttaranchal. The program aims at food provision through wage
employment. Food grains are supplied to states free of cost. However,
lifting of food grains for the scheme from Food Corporation of India
(FCI) godowns has been slow.
Rural Housing
Initiated in 1985-86, the IAY is the core program for providing
free housing to families in rural areas, targets scheduled castes
(SCs)/scheduled tribes (STs), households and freed bonded laborers.
The rural housing program has certainly enabled many BPL families
to acquire pucca houses, the coverage of the beneficiaries is limited
given the resource constraints. The Samagra Awas Yojana (SAY) was
taken up in 25 blocks to ensure convergence of housing, provision
of safe drinking water, sanitation and common drainage facilities.
The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has extended
its activities to the rural areas, providing loans at a concessional
rate of interest to economically weaker sections and low-income
group households for construction of houses.
Social Security Programs
Democratic decentralization and centrally supported Social Assistance
Programs were two major initiatives of the government in the 1990s.
The National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), launched in August
1995 marks a significant step towards fulfillment of the Directive
Principles of State Policy. The NSAP has three components: a) National
Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS); b) National Family Benefit Scheme
(NFBS); c) National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS). The NSAP is
a centrally-sponsored program that aims at ensuring a minimum national
standard of social assistance over and above the assistance that
states provide from their own resources. The NOAPS provides a monthly
pension of Rs. 75 to destitute BPL persons above the age of 65.
The NFBS is a scheme for BPL families who are given Rs. 10,000 in
the event of the death of the breadwinner. The NMBS provides Rs.
500 to support nutritional intake for pregnant women. In addition
to NSAP, the Annapurna scheme was launched from I April 2000 to
provide food security to senior citizens who were eligible for pension
under NOAPS but could not receive it due to budget constraints.
Land Reforms
In an agro-based economy of, the structure of land ownership is
central to the wellbeing of the people. The government has strived
to change the ownership pattern of cultivable land, the abolition
of intermediaries, the abolition of zamindari, ceiling laws, security
of tenure to tenants, consolidation of land holdings and banning
of tenancy are a few measures undertaken. Furthermore, a land record
management system is a pre-condition for an effective land reform
program. In 1987-88, a centrally-sponsored scheme for Strengthening
of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SRA &
ULR) was introduced in Orissa and Bihar.
Conclusion
Although these measures have been successful (to some extent) in
curbing poverty , this model has a very basic flaw. Under this model
resources are transferred from urban economy to rural economy just
for short term political motives. This is affecting both areas,
not letting rural economy develop on its own and hampering growth
and investments in urban economy. An ideal approach should include
the government, panchayats and key village personals, NGOs and private
companies. This will not only help reduce this imbalance but will
have a multiplier effect on the overall economy. By aligning the
goals of the two parts we can convert this seemingly zero sum game
into a win-win situation. It would be a very long drawn and difficult
battle with conventions but the reward is worth the effort.
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