RESTRUCTURED PROGRAMMES                            

SWARNJAYANTI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (SGSY)

        The focus of the development planning has been on the alleviation of poverty in rural areas since First Five Year Plan. The poverty alleviation programmes are being sponsored by the Government of India in one shape or other on the basis of experience gained in the field. But inspite of all efforts, the rural people are still in the grip of poverty either in absolute term or in relative term.
        In Arunachal Pradesh, 81627 families were found below the poverty line out of 1,49,612 (1991 census) families representing 54.55% at the beginning of Eight Plan. The Ninth Plan House Hold Survey identified 80627 families as below the poverty line representing 54%. Thus, the incidence of poverty remained more or less” static during last decade. This is because, the poverty line during Eight Plan was Rs. 11,000 per annum as family income. During Ninth Plan, the poverty line has been estimated to about Rs. 20,000. Thus, those who could be brought above the poverty line at the end of Eight Plan, their income have fallen below the poverty line during Ninth Plan.
        In view of this poverty situation, the Government of India has restructured the self-employment programme during 1999-2000 and a new self-employment programme namely Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana has been launched w.e.f April, 1999 as a single programme by merger of erstwhile IRDP, TRYSEM, DWCRA, Improved Tool-Kits, MWS, GKY in it. The objective is to make new programme more effective in providing sustainable income through micro enterprise development, both land based and otherwise. In doing so, effective linkages have to be established between various components such as capacity building of poor, credit, technology, marketing and programme infrastructure.

SALIENT FEATURES OF SGSY:

☞ SGSY aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in rural areas, building upon the potential for the rural poor.
☞ Assisted families, known as Swarozgaries, may be individual or Self-Help Group (SHG). Emphasis is however on group approach.
☞ Objective is to bring every assisted family above the poverty line in 3 years.
☞ Emphasis is on selection of 4-5 key activities for implementation in clusters as per project report on each key activity.
☞ Existing infrastructure gaps in clusters are to be reviewed and investment made for filling up of gaps.
☞ SGSY is a Credit-Cum-Subsidy scheme. Credit is the critical component and subsidy being minor and enabling component.
☞ Subsidy under SGSY is 50% of project cost subject to maximum ceiling of Rs. 10,000 per individual family. Subsidy for SHG is Rs. 1.25 lakh as maximum. There is no limit of bank loan. The credit should be in multiple dose and not one time credit injection.
☞ SGSY seeks to lay emphasis on skill Upgradation through well designed training courses.
☞ Funds under SGSY is shared by the centre and state on 75:25 basis.

JAWAHAR GRAM SAMRIDHI YOJANA (JGSY)

        With a view to imparting renewed thrust to improving the rural infrastructure, as per felt need of the people, the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) has been remodeled and it is now called as Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY). The main focus of JGSY is on development of infrastructure at the village which will also create wage employment for the villagers in the process of execution of schemes.    However, 22.57% SC/ST families against some specific activities. The Panchayati Raj Bodies will have sole responsibility to prepare plan and implementation of schemes.

EMPLOYMENT ASSURANCE SCHEME

        The primary objective of EAS is creation of additional wage employment opportunities during lean season for the Blow Poverty Line families. The secondary objective is creation of durable community, social and economic assets for sustained employment and development. DRDA will release 70% funds to Blocks on the basis of proportion of population and 30% will be retained at district level for taking up of special schemes. The scheme will be implemented by the Block/DRDA in the absence of Panchayati Raj Bodies in Arunachal Pradesh. However, selection of works will be done in consultation with the elected representative like M.Ps/ MLAs/ traditional village councils.
        The above restructured programmes were grounded in 1999-2000 and financial, physical achievements are given in Table.

Table
( In Rs.)

INTEGRATED WASTELANDS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (IWDP)

        The Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) envisages development of non-forest wastelands on micro-watershed approach. The scheme helps to develop wastelands with the active participation of the people i.e user groups, Self-Help Groups (SHG) and Panchayati Raj Institutions with the involvement the NGOs. The IWDP projects are sanctioned by the Government of India on the basis of project proposals from the DRDAs and funds are released to the DRDAs. The projects are implemented by the Project Implementing Agencies (PIA) which can be a line department or NGO having adequate knowledge about the field of Watershed Management. The major activities under IWDP are soil conservation, afforestration, horticulture and agro forestry, fuel wood plantation etc.
        IWDP is a 100% Central sector scheme. The cost norm is Rs. 4000.00 per hect. The projects are implemented by the PIA under the supervision of DRDA for 5 years. After completion of project period, the assets are transferred to the beneficiaries for further maintenance and sustained income.
        In Arunachal Pradesh, one project for Zimithang in Dirang Block of West Kameng District has been sanctioned for Rs. 60.00 lakhs covering 1500 hects. Another four projects submitted to the Government of India for sanction. More projects are to be taken up for all the districts @ 2 per district.