Rural Development

1 + India YEAR Book GO Rural-Development Foundation PT CUM MAINS WORK-SHEET Part - 8 Copyright © Aspire IAS All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Aspire lAS. 2 + India YEAR Book GO Housing RURAL DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION: Ministry of Rural Development has two departments namely Department of Rural Development and Department of Land Resource. Being the nodal Ministry for most of the development and welfare activities in the rural areas, the Ministry of Rural Development plays a pivotal role in the overall development strategy of the country. The vision and mission of the Ministry is sustainable and inclusive growth of rural India through a multipronged strategy for eradication of poverty by increasing livelihoods opportunities, providing social safety net and developing infrastructure for growth. This is expected to improve quality of life in rural India and to correct the developmental imbalances, aiming in the process, to reach out to most disadvantaged sections of the society. Aims of MoRD: Providing livelihood opportunities to those in need including women and other vulnerable sections with focus on Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. Providing for the enhancement of livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household demanding it. Provision of all weather rural connectivity to unconnected rural habitations and upgradation of existing roads to provide market access. Providing basic housing and homestead to BPL household in rural areas. Providing social assistance to the elderly, widow and disabled persons. Providing urban amenities in rural areas for improvement of quality of rural life. Capacity development and training of rural development functionaries. Promoting involvement of voluntary agencies and individuals for rural development. Restoring lost or depleted productivity of the land. This is done through watershed development programmes and initiating effective land reform measures for providing land to the landless rural poor. SOCIAL JUSTICE: The term social justice implies a political and cultural balance of the diverse interests in society. Democracy is the only means by which is indeed a dynamic process because human societies have higher goals to attain. Social justice is an integral part of the society. Social injustice can not be tolerated for a long period and can damage society through revolts. Therefore the deprived class should be made capable live with dignity. Social justice is a principle that lays down the foundation of a society based on equality, liberty and fraternity. The basic aim and objective of society is the growth of individual and development of his personality. The concept of social justice is a revolutionary concept which provides meaning and significance to life and makes the rule of law dynamic. When Indian society seeks to meet the challenge of socio-economic 3 + India YEAR Book GO Housing inequality by its legislation and with the assistance of the rule of law, it seeks to achieve economic justice without any violent conflict. The ideal of a welfare state postulates unceasing pursuit of the doctrine of social justice. The significance and importance of the concept of social justice today that Social justice is not a blind concept . It seeks to do justice to all the citizen of the state. RURAL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES: Schemes for Rural Development: 1. The following major programmes are being operated by the Ministry of Rural Development in rural areas: 2. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for providing wage employment, 3. National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) for self employment and skill development, 4. Housing for All : Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Grameen (PMAY-G) for providing housing to BPL households, 5. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for construction of quality roads, 6. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) for social pension, 7. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee RURBAN Mission, 8. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) for improving the productivity of the land. In addition, the Ministry also has schemes for capacity development of rural functionaries; Information, Education and Communication; and Monitoring and Evaluation. Department of Rural Development The Department of Rural Development is implementing a number of programmes in rural areas through the state Governments for poverty reduction, employment generation, rural infrastructure habitant development, provision of basic minimum services etc. The important programmes presently being implemented by the Department are: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Housing (Indira Awaas Yojana) DRDA Administration Training Schemes Promotion of Voluntary Schemes and Social Action Programme, organization of beneficiaries, advancement and dissemination of rural technology through CAPART. Department of Land Resources The department works in arresting land degradation, land ownership reform, and maintaining ecological balances. The major programmes implemented by the department are as follows: Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (Watershed Development Component) Digital India Land Record Modernization Programme 4 + India YEAR Book GO Housing Neeranchal - World Bank assisted Watershed Management Programme Technology Development, Extension & Training Bio-diesel Mission Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),2005 The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also known as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) is Indian legislation enacted on August 25, 2005. The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments Objective of the Act The objective of the Act is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. MGNREGA Goals Strong social safety net for the vulnerable groups by providing a fall-back employment source, when other employment alternatives are scarce or inadequate Growth engine for sustainable development of an agricultural economy. Through the process of providing employment on works that address causes of chronic poverty such as drought, deforestation and soil erosion, the Act seeks to strengthen the natural resource base of rural livelihood and create durable assets in rural areas. Effectively implemented, MGNREGA has the potential to transform the geography of poverty Empowerment of rural poor through the processes of a rights-based Law New ways of doing business, as a model of governance reform anchored on the principles of transparency and grass root democracy Thus, MGNREGA fosters conditions for inclusive growth ranging from basic wage security and recharging rural economy to a transformative empowerment process of democracy Salient Features of the Act 1. Adult members of a rural household, willing to do unskilled manual work, may apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat 2. The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card. The Job Card will bear the photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under MGNREGA and is free of cost 3. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application. 4. A Job Card holder may submit a written application for employment to the Gram Panchayat, stating the time and duration for which work is sought. The minimum days of employment have to be at least fourteen. 5 + India YEAR Book GO Housing 5. The Gram Panchayat will issue a dated receipt of the written application for employment, against which the guarantee of providing employment within 15 days operates 6. Employment will be given within 15 days of application for work, if it is not then daily unemployment allowance as per the Act, has to be paid liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the States. 7. Work should ordinarily be provided within 5 km radius of the village. In case work is provided beyond 5 km, extra wages of 10% are payable to meet additional transportation and living expenses 8. Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural labourers in the State, unless the Centre notifies a wage rate which will not be less than Rs. 60/ per day. Equal wages will be provided to both men and women. 9. Wages are to be paid according to piece rate or daily rate. Disbursement of wages has to be done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case 10. At least one-third beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested work under the scheme. 11. Work site facilities such as crèche, drinking water, shade have to be provided 12. The shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the gram sabha and approved by the Zilla panchayat. 13. At least 50% of works will be allotted to Gram Panchayats for execution 14. Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, afforestation

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