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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATI RAJ Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India No: 300 PRAGATI Newsletter May 2020

PRAGATI, May 2020 1 NIRDPR Tackling rural youth unemployment 3 through skills

CONTENTS 7 CGG&PA, NIRDPR organises 10 15 Installing Solar Power Systems For Devnath Bhati, ToT programme on Risk in government schools of entrepreneurship means ’never Communication for Prevention rural Telangana to enchance ever give up’ of Spread of COVID-19 learning ability of students 8 16 Two-week E-Training on 12 Fifteenth Finance Commission CAPART merges with NIRDPR; Sustainable Livelihoods and and Grants to Panchayat Raj becomes NIRDPR-Delhi branch Adaptation to Climate Change Institution 9 NIRDPR and ISLE organise webnair on revival of livelihoods

PRAGATI, May 2020 2 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Tackling rural youth unemployment through skills

Rural youths getting training in automobile sector (file photo) Tackling rural youth unemployment through skills

“The consequences of high neighbourhood joblessness are more devastating than those of high neighbourhood poverty... Many of today’s problems in the inner-city ghettos-crime, family dissolution, welfare, low levels of social organisation, and so on are fundamentally a consequence of the disappearance of work.” - William Julius Wilson, When Work Disappears, 1996, pp. xiii.

abour Day or International Workers’ agrarian crisis and economic distress. youth unemployment is more crucial in LDay is observed across the globe each The latest available employment case of India, as youth (in the age cohort year on the first day of May to celebrate statistics (Periodic Labour Force Survey: of 15 to 29) constitutes nearly 27.5 per the achievements of the working class PLFS - 2017-18) suggest that during cent of the total population. A high and their movements. Labour Day in the period 2011-12/2017-18, all broad proportion of rural youth continue to fall India was first celebrated on 1stMay, sectors of the rural economy registered in the category of ‘Not in employment- 1923. But the May Day of 2020 could varying degrees of slowdown or education and training’ (NEET), which rarely include neither any single worker negative employment growth rates. indicates the growing incidence of from a 400 million plus workforce of Few sub-sectors of the rural non-farm inactive, idle and disengaged youth in India nor it could touch any part of their sector did register positive employment rural areas. In 2017-18, 40 per cent of life. Sadly, it coincided with the global growth rates, but the construction rural youth (male = 13.6 per cent and pandemic COVID-19 and subsequent sector, which used to generate a bulk female = 60.0 per cent) in the age cohort prolonged lockdown. While this day is of 15 to 29 years were in the NEET celebrated to remember the struggle The ongoing COVID-led lockdown could category. Besides these quantitative movements of workers for their right, give rise to a plethora of possible outcomes in challenges, the rural labour market justice and liberation from all forms the labour market, which will have significant is also characterised by qualitative of exploitation and discrimination, implications for workers in general and rural challenges such as high degree countries across the globe witnessed youth in particular. of informality, rising incidence of varying degrees of vulnerability working poor, the problems of and plight of working class due to of rural employment also suffered low paid and insecure jobs, skill the COVID-19. The ongoing COVID-led severe setbacks. The rural female labour deficit and mismatch, distress-driven lockdown could give rise to a plethora of force participation rates continue to outmigration, poor working conditions, possible outcomes in the labour market, decline. It declined from 33.3 per cent long working hours, high incidence of which will have significant implications in 2004-05 to 25.3 per cent in 2011-12 occupational hazards, inadequate safety for workers in general and rural youth in and further to 18.2 per cent in 2017-18. measures at work places and so on. These particular. During 2017-18, we also witnessed a issues will further accentuate, if we factor During the past 10 years or so, rural high magnitude of unemployment rates, in various individual and household India was already passing through an especially for the youth. The problem of attributes such as gender, income

PRAGATI, May 2020 3 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

Young women being trained in dress designing and tailoring (file photo) class, social groups, education and skill abled persons, street vendors, small returned. The spell of the lockdown and profile, and so on. The Periodic Labour shop owners, micro enterprises, etc., will the responses of the government to Force Surveys (PLFS) 2018-19 showed a face severe negative impacts; vii) labour revive and restore economic activities marginal decline in the unemployment addas in cities and towns, which used will decide the magnitude of impacts rates and improvement in the labour force to provide employment opportunities on the youth. However, in the short term participation rates, as compared to 2017- for rural low skilled migrant daily wage and medium term, we may witness: 18. But these trends may be difficult to be workers, will remain non-operational due i) temporary or permanent job losses retained due to prolonged lockdown to to social-distancing and lockdown; viii) for the youth ii) youth taking up a low prevent the spread of COVID-19, resulting the incidence of NEET among rural youth paid job iii) increase in waithood for new in job losses across sectors. will significantly increase; ix) with the rise job iv) rise in unemployment spell and in rural labour supply, we may witness rate v) rise in requirement of vocational The employment challenges for rise in demand for public employment skill, training and entreprenuership rural youth programmes such as MGNREGA; x) there schemes and apprenticeship, internship, will be increasing pressure on rural on the job training and shcolarship There is no hard data to assess infrastructure, including water, health, vi) rise in the incidence of closure or the full impacts of COVID-19 on rural sanitation and housing; xi) at household sickness of micro, small units and rural employment and labour market level, there will be an increase in the out- start-ups. outcomes. But based on indirect and of-pocket expenses on health, education, proxy evidences, we may corroborate In addition to the livelihood crises, resulting in indebtedness. The cloud of the following possible changes in the youth will also have to face challenges COVID-19 will, we hope, be gone sooner rural labour market in general and for in their education, skill and health. rather than later, but a key question that rural youth, in particular: i) the rural During this pandemic period, academic/ is going to hunt us for quite some time labour supply will increase, as millions of education sessions are getting delayed; is how we can reverse these adverse migrant workers have returned to their poor quality and uncertainty in the higher currents? respective destinations; ii) with the rise education sector will result in delayed in supply of labour, the market wage Rural youths are already at a entry into the labour market. With the rates may dampen; iii) there will be lay disadvantageous position, as compared fall in household income, we may also off and job losses and it may accentuate to their urban counterparts, in terms witness withdrawal of children from further, if lockdown is stretched; of low levels of education and skill and the school, reduction in food expenses iv)contractual/irregular/daily wage inadequate access to employment resulting in malnutrition. In such scenario, earners will be worst affected; v) longer opportunities. The COVID-19 led the females in the household including working hours with same wage or less lockdown has made the employment girl child will badly be affected. COVID-19 wage for average eight hours work and scenario for rural youth even more may also throw health challenges for delayed wage payments; vi) informality challenging. We have witnessed a youth such as anxiety, depression and will rise and women and disadvantageous sudden rise in youth population in rural other psycho-social disorder, due to social groups such as SCs, STs, differently areas, as millions of youth migrants have uncertainties in the labour market and

PRAGATI, May 2020 4 NIRDPR . COVER STORY

education sector. Some of the youth and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises irrigation, cold storage, market linkages, may also recourse to drug addiction and (MSME) sector. But it will be difficult to and mechanisation, inter alia, to enable anti-social activities. The rural youths accommodate workers with diverse skill farmers to take up high-value agriculture. are going to face a multidimensional sets only in government programmes. challenges during COVID-19 and it will be Private players must also pitch in to Graduate SHGs: There is a need to draw important to mainstream the youth and accommodate skilled workers. a graduation plan for Self-Help Groups put them in the centre of rural economies (SHGs) so that it will generate more for driving a better and more sustainable Promote entrepreneurship: As new local employment. These SHGs are to rural development outcome. employment generation is constrained be graduated as an economically-viable of slump in demand, there will be a and productive enterprise through value Steps to tackle youth crisis huge demand for self-employment chain development in agriculture and the To address the rural youth crisis, as ventures, entrepreneurship and start-ups. non-farm sector through farmer producer narrated above, we need to design a Therefore, entrepreneurship schemes collectives, enterprise development, multi-pronged strategy, as follows: and programmes need to be leveraged skills training and access to larger value in rural areas. However, the success of loans through digital finance. However, these programmes will depend on how identifying and linking SHG enterprises Invest on skilling: There is an urgent quickly domestic demand will pick up. to robust supply chains and markets with need to invest on skilling, in designing Customised schemes should be designed sustained levels of demand will be crucial innovative skill programmes focussing for women, youth and underserved for them to scale up. more on upskilling, reskilling and communities such as SCs and STs. The apprenticeship to meet the demand scope and reach of MUDRA loans, Start of the new scenarios. It is necessary to Mentoring and handholding: In such -up Village Entrepreneurship Programme revisit our flagship skill programmes crisis time, provisioning of counselling, (SVEP), etc., must be leveraged. It is also such as DDU-GKY, PMKVY, and reorient mentoring and handholding for the youth important to note that the Ministry of in respeonse to the unprecedented will be very important, both for skill and MSME is working on creating an agro challenges thrown by COVID-19. A large entrepreneurship development. There MSME category to push entrepreneurship number of skill programmes are being are several agencies including Small in rural and tribal areas and help implemented by Central ministries, State Industries Development Bank of India manufacturing via local and raw produce. governments, private sectors and NGOs. (SIDBI), Rural Self Employment Training It is also envisaged that Panchayats to All these programmes are to be brought Institutes (RSETIs) and commercial banks become industry clusters. under one platform and a unified tracking who are offering these services. But so system should be developed for better far, its access has been very limited in outcomes Engage youth in agriculture: There is an rural areas and awareness about these apathetical attitude especially among services has also been low. It is important youth, not to work in agriculture. But the to note that the Ministry of Tribal Undertake skill mapping and skill contemporary situation demands for a Affairs in partnership with Facebook gap analysis: This is a right time to transformation of subsistence agriculture has launched ‘Going Online As Leaders’ undertake skill mapping and skill into a diversified farming business and this (Goal) programme for digital skilling of gap analysis, specially focussing on process of transformation can be driven tribal youth through mentoring across youth and returned migrants. Such by youth. To attract youth into agriculture, India. Under this, 5,000 young tribal skill mapping exercise, especially of it has to be transformed into a vibrant entrepreneurs, professionals, artisans and returned migrants have already been and tech-savvy sector by introducing artists will be trained on digital skills under initiated in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha robotics, ICT and nanotechnology. digital entrepreneurship programme. and Jharkhand. Attempts are also being Agro-entrepreneurship, food processing The programme has been designed made to accommodate these workers and value chain development will also with a long-term vision to develop the in various rural development schemes, encourage youth into agriculture. It potential of tribal youth and women to i.e., National Rural Livelihoods Mission is high time the government should help them acquire skills and knowledge (NRLM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural increase public investment on crucial through mentorship in various sectors Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) agriculture infrastructure, including including horticulture, food processing,

PRAGATI, May 2020 5 NIRDPR The Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) can play a direct role in profiling and mapping the needs of the rural youth and devise a mechanism to prioritise resource allocation and help them in providing skill, training, entrepreneurship and livelihood avenues. It is also important to mainstream youth in all rural development programmes. Youth may be encouraged to participate in Gram Sabhas and preparation of GPDP. While formulating a youth-friendly GPDP, Rural youth laying their hands on traditional weaving ( file photo ) a few questions/issues may be raised bee keeping, tribal art and culture, Role of Placement Agencies: Labour and discussed in the Gram Sabha, such medicinal herbs, entrepreneurship market intermediaries or placement as whether the youth needs have been among others. agencies have offered diversetaken care of while preparing GPDP; what employment opportunities and also is the nature and extent of youth needs Training and capacity development have potential to deliver services like envisaged in the GPDP; what are the major programmes: NIRDPR being a national skilling of aspiring jobseekers. In the constraints in creating the envisaged skill level organisation and one of its context of growing need for more job and entrepreneurship development for mandates is to facilitate training and creation, the positive contribution of rural youths; is it sustainable; and so on. capacity development programmes for Private Placement Agencies (PPA) can Thus, Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) could be truly an effective tool livelihood, skill and entrepreneurship. The hardly be undermind. More number of to mainstream rural youth in the rural need of the hour is to prepare customised public and private placement agencies development strategies and economic training programmes, including both must be operated, with greater focus policies. broad based and sector specific training on rural youth and these agencies must modules. It will also be important to collaborate with each other and work To sum up the above discussion, the overall enabling environment relating include a psycho-social module for the closely for better results. to policy, incentive structures, and rural youths to address the problems improvements in human of mental stress, depression, social and Migration Support Centres: capital infrastructure, cultural discrepancies, loneliness because During the COVID period It is time to reach active labour market of staying away from home, financial and afterwards, the role of out to each and policies, career counselling, issues and so on. Migration Support Centres every youth in rural vocational training, job (MSCs) both at source and India and start a search support, access to destination sites will be crucial Revamp and modernise Employment fresh conversation. better credit, training and Exchanges: There is an urgent need to to rebuild the trust of the skill and effective regulatory modernise the Employment Exchanges migrant workers. mechanism will be crucial and to transform these institutions to improve the participation of youth in all spheres of activities of the society into vibrant centres of job creation. Youth disaggregated database: It is and economy. It is time to reach out to These agencies have failed to reinvent important to develop a comprehensive each and every youth in rural India and themselves and fulfil the aspirations and policy-sensitive database focusing start a fresh conversation. As Benjamin of job-seekers in present day India. on youth, which could be placed in the Disraeli, a British politician and former Employment Exchanges must operate public domain, making identification, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has as ‘one-stop job shops’ bringing all understanding their needs and rightly said: The youth of a nation are the the processes such as registration, intervention more effective. trustees of posterity. counselling, job search supports, assessment and job matching under a Youth-friendly Gram Panchayat and single centre. The Employment Exchanges Dr. Partha Pratim Sahu GPDP: Since the problem of NEET is more must adopt modern techniques and Associate Professor acute in rural areas and it has further expand its outreach programmes and accentuated during post-COVID period, Centre for Entrepreneurship job fairs. Gram Panchayats can play a it is essential to assess the magnitude of Development and Financial crucial role in connecting youth with the constraints and challenges faced by Inclusion (CEDFI), NIRDPR Employment Exchange and its services. the rural youth and mainstream them in Cover page Design: Shri V.G. Bhat the overall rural development strategy.

PRAGATI, May 2020 6 NIRDPR CGG&PA, NIRDPR organises ToT programme on Risk Communication for Prevention of Spread of COVID-19

Digital poster of training programme webinar ToT Programme on ‘Risk government functionaries at the right webinar session ended with vote of thanks ACommunication for Prevention time. He also mentioned that Sikkim is by Dr. K. Prabahakar, Asst Prof., CGG&PA of Spread of COVID-19’ was organised the one State without any positive cases Totally, 150 participants attented the to train Panchayat Presidents, BDOs, as on (1st May, 2020). He added that as webinar and they were State officials like SRLM team and Swachhagrahi Director General, suggested, they Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Rural of Sikkim by the Centre for Good have been already working on a plan Development, Sikkim, Director, Panchayati Governance and Policy Analysis of action against post-lockdown once Raj, Director and Faculty of SIRD Sikkim, ADC (CGG&PA), NIRDPR in collaboration the migrants from Sikkim are returned. (Dev) and BDOs, Panchayat presidents and with Communication Research Unit – The webinar started with an members, swachhagrahis and SRLM teams. National Institute of Rural Development introduction on the purpose of the training, As suggested by Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, and Panchayati Raj & UNICEF background and small activity for anxiety Director General, NIRDPR a webinar ToT Hyderabad Field Office on 1st May, 2020. management. The webinar mainly focused programme on ‘Risk Communication Dr. Gyanmudra, Professor and Head, and covered topics like understanding for Prevention of Spread of COVID-19’ CGG&PA and Director, CRU, NIRDPR COVID-19, modes of virus transmission was conducted for all NIRDPR ITEC welcomed the participants to the and its spread, key behaviours, prevention: international training coordinators. webinar. Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director safe practices at home and in the In response to Dr. Reddy’s suggestion, General, NIRDPR in his opening address community, hand -hygiene do’s and (CGG&PA has organised webinar for the told the participants to exercise caution don’ts, social distancing, respiratory 2018 & 2019 CGG&PA ITEC participants in the wake of spread of COVID-19. hygiene, special attention to high risk of ‘International Training Programme Also he mentioned that during groups, key behaviours for suspected or on ‘Good Governance for Management COVID-19 epidemic all government confirmed cases, guidelines for homeof Rural Development Programmes’ in functionaries need to think well in isolation of pre-symptomatic cases, collaboration with CRU – NIRDPR & UNICEF advance on the plan of action for the post-lockdown safety measures, post- Hyderabad Field Office on th11 May, 2020. post-lockdown COVID-19 epidemic lockdown: potential trigger points for fear, Dr. Gyanmudra, Professor and Head, because most of the migrant labourers anxiety and suspicion, COVID-19 stigma CGG&PA and Director, CRU, NIRDPR have started coming back to their and discrimination, psycho-social issues: welcomed participants to the webinar. respective States. In this condition, all whom to prioritise/target? why special Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR government departments have to be attention to swachhagrahis and Panchayat welcomed all ITEC international participants ready with possible positive solutions presidents, role of Panchayat presidents, in his opening address and enquired about to control the spread of COVID-19. BDOs, SRLM teams and Swachhagrahis. COVID-19 epidemic in their countries. Shri C. S. Rao, Principal Secretary, Course team also shared material available He also cautioned all countries about the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, with the participants to take this learning need to be to think well in advance with a Sikkim thanked CGG&PA, NIRDPR for to the next level. The team responded plan of action for the post lockdown after conducting such a programme for the to the participants questions and the COVD-19 epidemic. The webinar began

PRAGATI, May 2020 7 NIRDPR with an introduction of purpose of Team responded to the participants’ their respective countries. Dr. K. Prabhakar, the training, background and small questions and the webinar session ended Assistant Professor, Centre for Good activity for anxiety management. with vote thanks by Dr. K. Prabahakar. Governance & Policy analysis (CGG&PA) Course team also shared material Totally, 45 international participants from and Dr. Gyanmudra, Professor and Head, available with the participants to 30 countries participated in the webinar and CGG&PA organised both the webinars. take this learning to next levels. all of them were government functionaries in Two-week E-Training on Sustainable Livelihoods and Adaptation to Climate Change

Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR addressing the participants along with Course Directors

n E-Training programme on organisations, researchers, professors and S. Gavali delivered a session on climate ASustainable Livelihoods and other individuals dealing with sustainable change and impacts of climate change Adaptation to Climate Change (SLACC) livelihoods and agriculture related subjects. on water, agriculture and allied sectors. was organised by the Centre for Natural The programme was inaugurated During the SLACC E-Training Resource Management, Climate Change by Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, programme, various climate- resilient and Disaster Mitigation (CNRM &CCDM), NIRDPR who welcomed all the participants. intervention/technologies were taught National Institute of Rural Development Being the first live online training course to the participants by various resources and Panchayat Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad of NIRDPR for the calendar year, he persons from NIRDPR, ICAR-CRIDA, from 27th May, 2020 to 9th June, appreciated the initiatives taken by CNRM& ICAR-NAARM and BISA, etc. The major 2020 by using A-VIEW application. CCDM team. Dr. Reddy also emphasised issues covered during the programme This programme was planned to upon the ongoing climatic impacts were climate change and its impacts overcome the challenges thrown by the and the need for the implementation on water, agriculture and allied sectors, COVID–19 crisis in conducting regular of adaptive strategies in agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Planning training programmes. Therefore, the sector, which is the backbone of India. (CCAP), adaptation practices in rice (DSR, E-Training on SLACC was modified to He also highlighted the success stories MSRI, MT, AWD, etc.), soil health and the needs of online mode and thus from the earlier SLACC project which was nutrient management, Weather-based conducted in lieu of training programmes implemented in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Agro Advisory Services (WBASS), crop listed in NIRDPR annual training calendar Followed by the inaugural address, insurance, small ruminant farming and for both Mission Staff and Community course directors Dr. Ravindra S. Gavali, backyard poultry rearing, livestock and Resource Persons, i.e. ‘Community Based Professor and Head, CNRM, CC&DM, dairy farming: fodder crops production Approaches to Climate Resilience and Dr. K. Krishna Reddy, Associate professor and management, alternate livelihoods Adaptation Practices’. A total of 420 and Dr. Subrat K. Mishra, Associate (azolla, mushroom, kitchen garden) and members registered around the globe Professor gave a short introduction to the convergence of flagship programmes. including international (ITEC, AARDO programme, and discussed the programme The daily schedule included an expert and CIRDAP Alumini participants, schedule and the deliverables during the session, followed by screeing of an representatives of State Rural Livelihoods programme. Following the main course in-house documentary film related Mission (SRLM), other officers of director of the programme Dr. Ravindra to the subject and concluded with a line departments, non-government case study discussion prepared for the

PRAGATI, May 2020 8 NIRDPR subject. The participants were given quiz was taken up in order to retain their Out of the 420 registered participants free and anytime access to the study attention of the participants and test a total of 131(male-100 and female-31) material, case studies, films and daily their knowledge. Apart from the above including 12 international delegates session through library recordings and technical issues, the resources persons attended the programme regularly, also via Google Drive link. At the end have clarified the doubts of the participants meeting the requirement of certification of each day, a short attention-based through virtual interaction and chat. .i.e., 70 per cent attendance and qualifying quiz was conducted on the session. the quizes. Indian participants belonging On the last day of the programme, the to19 States of which Maharashtra and Apart from enlightening the participants were given a chance to express Andhra Pradesh have highest numbers. knowledge of the participants to their experiences and learning outcomes Among the Indian participants, line various climate resilient technologies, many participants appreciated the course department officials accounted for they were shown short films andcontent and the way of delivering each 52, followed by 46 participants from success stories from earlier SLACC subject. Participants expressed their interest teaching profession, 26 research project, which created more enthusiasm to join more courses related to climate scholars and 8 others including NGOs and interest in the participants. The change and disaster mitigation subject. At and Individuals. The programme was method has compensated the fieldthe end of the programme, an elaborate coordinated by Dr. Ravindra Gavali, level exposure to different technologies. quiz was also conducted to assess the Dr. Krishna Reddy and Dr. Subrat Mishra. At the end of the each day, a short knowledge gained by the participants.

NIRDPR and ISLE organise webnair on revival of rural livelihoods

Members of the pannel during the webnair ational Institute of Rural Development strategies, (ii) the capacity of institutions prolific speakers not only discussed major and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), N and challenges to return to normalcy; issues but also highlighted the way forward Hyderabad under its S.R. Sankaran Chair and (iii) short-term, medium-term and and plan of action towards achieving a jointly with the Indian Society of Labour long-term measures towards faster smooth path of revival and reconstruction Economics (ISLE), New Delhi organised a and inclusive economic recovery. of rural economy. This webinar was chaired webinar on ‘Revival and Reconstruction Four eminent panellists, and moderated by Dr. W. R. Reddy, Director of Rural Livelihoods Challenges, 1) Prof. Abhijit Sen, former Professor, JNU General, NIRDPR, who also spoke about Opportunities and Way Forward’ on 20th New Delhi and former member, Planning reorienting major rural development and May, 2020. The main objectives of this Commission 2) Shri S. M. Vijayanand Panchayati Raj institutions to bring back webinar was to discuss the rural economic (IAS, Retd.) former Secretary, Ministry the rural economy to the pre-COVID period. crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic of Rural Development, Govt. of India This webinar was jointly and subsequent lockdown. The webinar 3) Shri Nikhil Dey, Social Activist, Mazdoor co-ordinated by Prof. Rajendra P. Mamgain discussed issues related to revival and Kishan Shakti Sangthan, Rajasthan and (S. R. Sankaran Chair Professor) and Dr. Partha reconstruction of livelihood in rural India 4) Prof. D. N. Reddy, former Professor Pratim Sahu, Centre for Entrepreneurship in the context of (i) the outreach, adequacy of Economics, University of Hyderabad Development & Financial Inclusion, NIRDPR. and effectiveness of the relief and revival shared their views on the theme. These

PRAGATI, May 2020 9 NIRDPR Installing Solar Power Systems in government schools of rural Telangana to enhance learning ability of students

Smt. Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy Director General, NIRDPR inaugurating solar powered lighting and cooling systems at the Primary School in Talakondapally, Ranga Reddy district

he Annual Status of Education classrooms has not been given adequate the primary and secondary school categories TReport (ASER Rural) – 2018 calls for attention. was about 64.4 per cent and 91 per cent, introducing proactive steps to improve Contrary to the most commonly used respectively. status of education in rural schools of phrase “let there be light” which reinforces Considering these issues and with India. According to the study, enrolment the realisation of better knowledge and encouragement of Late T. L. Sankar, IAS, of students in rural schools has been above wisdom, schools in most parts of India the Former Energy Secretary, GoI, (Padma 96 per cent since 2010. However, low are reeling under darkness. As a result, Bhushan awardee), the National Institute attendance rates of 60 per cent, especially children as well as the teachers stay in very of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in schools in States, like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, uncomfortable classroom environment in (NIRDPR) promoted solar installation for West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur summer season due to the hot weather as lighting and cooling purposes in 26 schools is still a major concern. Also, learning level there are no fans installed in the classrooms. of Talakondapally mandal, Mahaboobnagar tests result shows that only a quarter of the In winters, due to the lack of lighting facility district and Kadtal mandal, Ranga Reddy students who appeared for the test cleared when the opaque wooden window shutters district, Telangana State. This initiative was it. have to be closed due to cold weather funded by Shri Malli. Varanashi, an NRI based Over the years, it has been established conditions. in the USA. that it is important to ensure availability of The State-wise data of electrification Although the 26 schools were connected basic amenities in schools for improving the for primary and secondary level schools to grid, the situation was that only office rooms overall learning ability of children, rather across India prepared by the District had lights and fans. Due to lack of funds some than merely improving quality of teaching. Information System for Education (DISE) schools were not paying electricity charges Although many of these initiatives are being for 2016-17 gives credence to this issue. which ranged from Rs.5,000- Rs.10,000 per taken up to address this issue, provision of According to the data, the percentage of year. Considering these factors, with the electricity for ensuring lights and fans in schools with access to electricity in India in help of the State Education Department,

PRAGATI, May 2020 10 NIRDPR solar power systems ranging from 0.3KW interruptions. This initiative has also given bills can be reserved for meeting the cost of to 2KW capacities were installed in an opportunity for the children to realise the replacement of batteries and solar panels. anganwadis and primary schools. potential of solar energy. On an average, batteries need replacement

In order to meet the power Although solar energy installation after five years and solar panels have a long requirements, roof-top solar panels have requires higher level of initial investments, life span of 20 years. been connected to a battery system the overall advantage it offers is immense. This initiative stands as an example and an inverter in these schools. All the At present, the off-grid solar systems of 1KW of how government can ensure proper classrooms in these 26 schools have been and 2KW capacities consisting of batteries, learning environment in schools. Apart provided with two lights and fans. After wiring, lights and fans would approximately from the government, donors and corporate learning the benefits, a few schools have cost about Rs.1,50,000 and Rs. 3,00,000, social responsibility initiatives of companies totally disconnected from the regular grid respectively, per school. On an average, 1KW can consider replicating this initiative. electricity connection and are managing and 2KW systems can provide power to 10 NIRDPR is willing to offer the much needed their power needs with the solar power classrooms and 20 classrooms, respectively. technical assistance to promote this noble system. For supporting the repair and initiative. Children, who are predominantly maintenance of solar systems, a central core Dr. Ramesh Sakthivel from poor families, are overjoyed to team with required skills can be created Associate Professor and Head (I/C) see lights and fans in their classrooms. at the district level to ensure trouble-free Mr. Mohammad Khan Students in schools which have smart maintenance in schools. In addition, creating Senior Consultant board facility informed that they can a school or district level corpus fund from the Centre for Innovations and Appropriate use the smart boards without any amount being spent for paying electricity Technology (CIAT), NIRDPR

Elementary Schools Secondary Schools

State wise percentage of schools electrified till 2016-17 in India

PRAGATI, May 2020 11 NIRDPR Fifteenth Finance Commission and Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions

A file photo of villagers fethcing water for household purposes . heT basic grants provided by the Finance Commission can be used by the local bodies for location-specific felt needs like supply of drinking water, sanitation, rainwater harvesting, etc. he Fifteenth Finance Commission The table 1 briefs us about the grant will be in the bands of 70-85 per cent T(FC-XV) was constituted by given by the Finance Commission to the to Gram Panchayats and 15-30 per cent the President of India under Panchayats over a period of time: to District Panchayats. Once the State- Article 280 of the Constitution on level grants are earmarked for each th 27 November, 2017. The prime The FC-XV, in its interim report, has tier, the intra-tier distribution among assignment of the Commission is to recommended a sum of Rs. 60,750 crore local-bodies across the State should be make recommendations for five-years to PRIs for the year 2020-21. All the tiers on the basis of population and area in st commencing from 1 April, 2020. The in the Panchayats – village, block and the ratio of 90:10 or as per the accepted commission submitted its interim district including 5th and 6th Schedule recommendations of the latest SFC. report for a period of one year 2020- Areas shall receive the grants. This will 2021 in February. The final report enable pooling of resources across Utilisation of Grants: The grants for for the period of five years 2021- villages and blocks to create durable rural local-bodies and for 5th and 6th 2026 is expected to be submitted in community assets and improve their Schedule Areas shall be distributed as October 2020. The primary role of functional capability. The distribution of basic and tied grants in the ratio of 50:50. the Finance Commission is to give grants for local bodies among the States The basic grants are untied and can be recommendations on the distribution is based on population and area in the used by the local bodies for location- of taxes collected by the Centre and ratio of 90:10. The inter se distribution specific felt needs, except for salary or shared between the Union government among the PRIs by the States shall be other establishment expenditure. The and State governments. Only after done in conformity with the following tied grants can be used for the basic the introduction of 73rd Constitutional bands: services such as: Amendment Act which tells about the • 70 to 85 per cent for Gram a) Supply of drinking water creation of three-tier Panchayati Raj Panchayats Institutions (PRIs), Finance Commission b) Sanitation and solid and liquid • 10 to 25 per cent for Block waste management has considered sharing the Centre’s Panchayats c) Maintenance of open-defecation revenue with the Panchayats also. • 5 to 15 per cent for District free status From the recommendations of the Panchayats d) Rainwater harvesting and Tenth Finance Commission onwards, In Goa, Sikkim and Manipur, which the Grant- in-aid has been given e) Water recycling. have a two-tier system, the allocation to the Panchayats from the Centre. The PRIs shall, as far as possible,

PRAGATI, May 2020 12 NIRDPR including augmentation of Table 1: Finance Commission Grant to Panchayats since 1995 water sources. CFC(Award Period) Basic Grants Performance Total Rs in Illustrative list of activities which Grant crores the Panchayats can take up under th 10 - 1995-2000 4,380.93 0.00 4,380.93 FC-XV: 11th-2000-2005 7,323.45 0.00 7,323.45 To provide location-specific 12th -2005-2010 20,000.00 0.00 20,000.00 felt needs from untied grants, the 13th-2010-2015 41,224.60 21,825.85 63,050.45 following activities may be carried 14th- 2015-2020 1,80,262.98 20,029.22 2,00,292.20 out by the Gram Panchayats: 15th- 2020-21 60,750.00 0.00 60,750.00 1. Construction of internal (For One year) roads/drains/community halls/community work- earmark one-half of these tied grants Financial Management shed /storm water drainages, etc each to these two critical services, i.e., for Information System (IFMIS) of 2. Maintenance of roads/ sanitation and drinking water. However, if the State governments and the Public Financial Management footpaths/community any local body has fully saturated the needs System (PFMS) of the Controller assets/parks/parking of one category, it can utilise the funds for General of Accounts (CGA) places, etc. the other category. The tied grants should c) Generate online accounts by 3. Street-lighting be treated as additional money over and each rural local-body. Enable 4. Burial and cremation above the funds allocated by the Centre online auditing of such accounts grounds and their consolidation at the and State governments towards Centrally 5. Market shed/marketing State and all-India level. sponsored scheme such as Swachh Bharat facility Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Mission. However, 6. Any other felt need as if any local body has fully saturated the Responsibilities of Panchayats for identified in Gram Sabha. needs of one category, it can utilise the effective planning and utilisation of FC- To providing basic Services funds for the other category. States will XV funds: To ensure effective utilisation from tied grants, the following come up with detailed guidelines for of FC-XV grants, the Gram Panchayats activities may be taken up by the utilisation of FC-XV grants. have to amend their Gram Panchayat Gram Panchayat: Development Plan (GPDP) which was already prepared for 2020-21 to ensure Release of Grants: Grants to all PRIs will be that 50 per cent funds are strictly allocated Drinking Water released in two equal installments in June for water supply and sanitation. For this, 1. Planning and 2020 and October 2020. The States shall the Panchayats need to: implementation of Jal transfer grants to respective local bodies Jeevan Mission a) Encourage adoption of safe within 10 working days of receipt from sanitation 2. Drinking water the Union government. Any delay beyond source development/ b) Solid and Liquid Waste 10 working days will require the State augmentation of existing Management (SLWM) and sources governments to release the same with hygiene practices by the interest as per the effective rate of interest community 3. In-village water tap water connection to every on market borrowings by the State for the c) Adopt solutions for waste household (55lpcd)/ previous year. management primarily schools /ICDS segregation of all types of waste in the village 4. Raise 10 per cent public Other Non-Financial Recommendations: contribution for capital cost d) Maintain, upgrade and repair The following are the non-financial sanitation facilities through 5. Maintenance of piped recommendations of the FC-XV: community-led action water supply schemes and raise the service level a) The PRIs to transit to an upgraded e) Take responsibility of operations accounting code structure in and maintenance (O&M) of water 6. Use of technological PRIASoft from the current four- supply schemes intervention for treatment level to the six-level structure to make water potable f) Encourage community followed at Central and State ownership in managing and 7. Geotag all water supply governments maintaining water and sanitation assets b) The PRIASoft needs to be facilities 8. Activate VWHSC. integrated with Integrated g) Take steps for water conservation

PRAGATI, May 2020 13 NIRDPR Rainwater Harvesting and Water Table 2: Grants in aid for Rural Local Bodies as per FC-XV Recycling Recommendation (2020-2021) across States 1. Plan for reuse and recycling of water State Revenue Grants to State’s share 2. Reclaim and revitalise deficit rural local in grants for traditional water harvesting structures grants bodies rural local 3. Construction and bodies maintenance of : Andhra Pradesh 5,897 2,625 4.32 a) Rainwater harvesting Arunachal - 231 0.38 structure Pradesh b) Permanent storage structures for collection Assam 7,579 1,604 2.64 of rainwater Bihar - 5,018 8.26 c) Farm ponds for Chhattisgarh - 1,454 2.39 collection of runoff water for supplemental Goa - 75 0.12 irrigation Gujarat - 3,195 5.26 d) Percolation tanks Haryana - 1,264 2.08 at appropriate sites for augmentation of Himachal Pradesh 11,431 429 0.71 rainwater Jharkhand - 1,689 2.78 e) Ponds and rejuvenation Karnataka - 3,217 5.29 of water bodies. Kerala 15,323 1,628 2.68 Madhya Pradesh - 3,984 6.56 Sanitation and ODF status 1. Implement SBM (G) Maharashtra - 5,827 9.59 2. Identify households Manipur 2,824 177 0.29 without toilets and Meghalaya 491 182 0.3 facilitate construction of toilets Mizoram 1,422 93 0.15 3. Promote hygiene Nagaland 3,917 125 0.21 education/toilet use and Odisha - 2,258 3.72 maintenance Punjab 7,659 1,388 2.29 4. Create facilities for SLWM 5. ODF status verification in Rajasthan - 3,862 6.36 Gram Sabha Sikkim 448 42 0.07 6. Community engagement Tamil Nadu 4,025 3,607 5.94 for ODF sustainability Telangana - 1,847 3.04 7. Sweeping of streets/ public places/litter bins/ Tripura 3,236 191 0.31 plastic ban Uttar Pradesh - 9,752 16.05 8. Solid waste and Uttarakhand 5,076 574 0.95 greywater management in the villages. West Bengal 5,013 4,412 7.26

Total 74,341 60,750 100 Dr. Vanishree Joseph Assistant Professor Sources: Report for the year 2020-21, 15th Finance Commission; PRS. Centre for Panchayati Raj, Decentralised Planning and Social Service Delivery, NIRDPR Picture credits: Dr. Surjit Vikraman Associate Prof., CAS, NIRDPR

PRAGATI, May 2020 14 NIRDPR For Devnath Bhati, entrepreneurship means ’never ever give up’

Devnath Bhati’s cotton ginning unit at Jodhpur district, Rajasthan; (inset) Devnath Bhati -

nemployed youth in India today are gained insight into various entrepreneurial over the country. frantically running from pillar to post and behavioural soft skills which helped his U Devnath happily shares that he in search of employment opportunities. transformation into an aspiring entrepreneur. enjoyed his training at ICICI Jodhpur RSETI Not very long ago, Devnath Bhati, a 24-year- After completing his training, he decided which is a state-of-the-art training centre old educated but unemployed youth from to gain some experience before starting off on in the country with good ambience and Asop village, Bhopalgarh tehsil, Jodhpur his own and so, he worked for a contractor for good training facilities. As ICICI RSETI district, Rajasthan, was also one of them. six months with minimum wages. Gradually, Jodhpur has bagged the IGBC rated ‘Net Floundering from his childhood, the entrepreneur inside him gained the Zero Energy – Platinum’ award, he is feeling Devnath always had to face financial confidence to launch his own venture. With proud to have undergone his skill training crunch due to the low income of his father guidance from ICICI Jodhpur RSETI, he applied in an award-winning training campus. despite which children’s education was for a loan under PMEGP (Prime Minister’s When asked about the secret of his something his family never compromised Employment Generation Programme). He success, Devnath Bhati wittily chuckles on. After completing his graduation (B.A.), was sanctioned an amount of Rs. 25,00,000 and says, “I have a magic wand of skill in my Devnath had to go through a long phase of by Dena Bank-Asop branch, Jodhpur district. hands. And that’s the key to my success.” unemployment. When he was on the verge He added his family’s savings of Rs. 2,50,000 of losing all hopes, ICICI RSETI team came to to the loan amount and started his own small his village to conduct an Entrepreneurship enterprise in 2014. Since the work of cotton RSETI Project Centre at NIRDPR is Awareness Programme (EAP). He considers ginning is a seasonal trade, he had to struggle the implementing agency for MoRD’s himself fortunate to have attended the a lot initially, but with utmost diligence and infrastructure grant aid policy for awareness programme. This programme determination to sustain and grow, he finally construction of RSETI buildings, constructed gave him an insight on the various free skill carved his niche. by RSETIs sponsor banks with the help of grant aid from Ministry of Rural training programmes conducted by MoRD Today, Devnath is a happy and successful Development. RSETI Project Centre at through RSETIs situated in various districts entrepreneur with a monthly turnover of NIRDPR is proud of the state-of-the-art all over the country. Rs. 1,75,000. He has employed eight people buildings like ICICI RSETI Jodhpur where skill With high hopes for a better future, to help him in his activities. He is ambitious training programmes are being provided Devnath decided to enrol himself in the and has plans for future expansion, one of free of cost to rural unemployed youth for ‘Cotton Ginning and Fitting’ skill training which is to install a pressing machine in his enabling entrepreneurship ventures to solve programme (training batch number 155, factory in the near future which could provide India’s major economic issues like poverty from 15th November 2013 to 15th December employment opportunities to a few more and unemployment. 2013), conducted at ICICI Jodhpur RSETI. people and thus providing livelihood to more Ms. P. Champakavali According to Devnath, the skill families in his village. training provided at ICICI RSETI was Devnath is grateful to the Ministry of Project Director very useful and effective. In addition to Rural Development for providing free skill Mr. Mohammed Khan theoretical knowledge, he received hands- training to the rural unemployed youth Project Manager on training on ginning machinery. He also through RSETIs situated in various districts all RESTI Project, NIRDPR

PRAGATI, May 2020 15 NIRDPR CAPART merges with NIRDPR, Hyderabad; becomes NIRDPR- Delhi branch

NIRDPR entrance at Hyderabad (left) and Career Guidance Centre, Vaishali, Bihar (right)

he Council for Advancement of New Delhi having offices at Indian are going to function in accordance TPeople’s Action and Rural Technology Habitat Centre and Janakpuri with the procedures of NIRDPR. (CAPART), New Delhi has been merged will now be called as NIRDPR, New Delhi The CGC, Vaishali, Bihar will retain the with National Institute of Rural branch. From 1st May, 2020 onwards all same name and the contact point for Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), the current employees and resources held the CGC, Vaishali will be the Head, Hyderabad. The merger has come into by CAPART are under NIRDPR’s control. Centre for Innovation and Application of effect from st1 May, 2020.The merger The facilities of erstwhile CAPART Technologies (CIAT), NIRDPR, Hyderabad. of CAPART with NIRDPR was approved at Delhi include an office at India All the existing e-files of erstwhile CAPART by the Union Cabinet in October 2019. Habitat Centre, Janakpuri and Career will be migrated to NIRDPR e-office. Post-merger, the erstwhile CAPART, Guidance Centre (CGC) at Vaishali which -CDC Initiatives

OIGS Book Post (Contains Printed Matter)

Dr. W.R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR Smt. Radhika Rastogi, IAS, Deputy Director General, NIRDPR NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATI RAJ Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India Assistant Editors: Krishna Raj K. S. Victor Paul Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030 G. Sai Ravi Kishore Raja Phone: (040) 24008473, Fax: (040) 24008473

E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.nirdpr.org.in Published By: Dr. Akanksha Shukla, Associate Professor and Head, CDC on behalf of the NIRDPR, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030.

PRAGATI, May 2020 16 NIRDPR