Poverty and Unemployment Alleviation Programmes

Indian economic planners followed the Maxim; “Take care of economic growth, poverty will take care of itself”

A lot of benefits were given to have-notes in our five year plans. But these benefits could not reach the poor.

Following are important poverty and Unemployment Alleviation Programme:

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP):

The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was started in 20 selected districts in the country in 1976-77. Later on in 1980, the programme was extended to all the districts of the country. The scheme was funded by centre. The funds for the scheme are shared by centre and State Govt. on equal basis.

The objective of the scheme is to create productive assets for the families in rural areas living below poverty line. Bank Loans are provided to create productive assets to take up self-employment activities. They include agriculture horticulture, animal husbandry, poultry and weaving etc.

This programme was being implemented by the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA). This scheme was merged with one self-employment programme called Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Tagore in year 1999.

2. National Rural Employment Programme (NREP):

This programme was launched in 1980. The main aim of the programme was to create employment opportunities by building and maintaining community assets like village roads, ponds and wells etc. The scheme was expected to generate additional gainful employment to the extent of 30 to 40 crore man-days per annum and to develop community assets. In this programme, food grains are given for the work. NREP was merged with Jawahar Rozgar Yogana (JRY) in 1989.

3. Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP):

This programme was started in 1983. Its main objective was to provide 100 days of assured employment in a year to rural landless labour families. They were to be employed in -j creating community assets. This scheme was sponsored by Union Govt. In 1989, this J scheme was merged in JRY.

4. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM):

This scheme was started in 1979. The objective of the scheme was to help unemployed rural youth between the age of 18 and 35 years to acquire skills for self-employment. Priority was given to SC/ST Youth and Women. After the completion of training, credit was provided to the trained youth to set up their own business and trade 3.6 lakh youth were trained under TRYSEM in 1996-97.

5. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY):

This scheme came into existence in April 1989. The previous schemes NREP and RLEGP were merged into this scheme. The main objective of JRY was to create additional employment for rural under-employed and unemployed.

The basic feature of this programme was that the funds would be released directly to the village panchayats which would launch the employment programme according to the local needs of the people. It was a Central Govt. sponsored programme and expenditure was shared between the centre and states in the ratio of 80:20.

The DRDA directly receives the centre’s share and state’s share from Govt. Then DRDA allots the funds to various panchayats. Contractors were not allowed to execute the projects. In 1999, JRY was renamed as Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana.

6. Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS):

This scheme was launched in 1994 m 1752 blocks where modified public distribution system was in operation. It aims at providing 100 days work for unskilled physical workers especially in rural areas during slack agriculture season. It is a scheme to remove the seasonal unemployment. The funds for the scheme are shared by the central and states on 80:20 ratio basis. Employment is given on demand.

7. Small and Cottage Industries:

Special measures have been taken by the Government to develop small and cottage industries with a view to removing poverty and unemployment. Large amount is being spent to promote self-employment.

8. Minimum Needs Programme (MNP):

Minimum Needs Programme was launched during fifth plan to raise the standard of living of the poor. The programme covers primary education, adult education, rural health, rural water supply, rural roads, rural electrification, rural housing and ecological improvement & urban slums.

9. Indira Awas Yojana (LAY):

Indira Awas Yojana was started in 1985-86 to provide residential units free of cost to SC and ST and freed bonded labour. This scheme was extended to Non SC/ST Categories from 1993-94. In 1995-96 families of armed forces and paramilitary forces killed in action brought under this scheme. DRDA is the coordinating agency.

10. Million Wells Schemes (MWS):

Million wells scheme was launched on 1st January 1996. The main aim of this scheme was to increase the irrigation facilities and assist in the development of the land of the marginal farmers belonging to SC/ST castes. In 1999, this scheme was merged with Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana.

11. Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY):

Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) was launched in 1993. It is a self-employment scheme meant for the educated unemployed youth. It is meant for poor families having income less than Rs. 25,000 per annum. Each educated unemployed youth is eligible for a loan of Rs. 1 lakh to start a small business. 22:5% reservation is given is SC/ST candidate and 27% reservation is given to OBC 15% of total amount is given as subsidy.

12. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY):

Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana was started on 1st April 1999 to create rural infrastructure, like roads, bridges etc. The main objective was to create wage employment for the unemployed rural youth. DRDA was the co-ordinating agency. The scheme was sponsored by Centre Govt. The expenditure was shared between centre and state in the ratio of 80:20.

13. Sampooma Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SGRY):

This scheme was started in Sept. 2001 by Prime Minister. The main objective of this scheme was to provide gainful employment & food security to villagers. Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY) have been merged in this scheme because both have the same objectives. DRDA is the nodal agency for this scheme. The expenditure for this scheme is shared by the centre and state in the ratio 80:20.

14. Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY):

Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was launched on 1st April 1999. It is the single self employment programme for rural poor.

It replaces the earlier self employment programmes:

(i) Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

(ii) Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)

(iii) Development for Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

(iv) Supply of Improved Tool kits to Rural Artisans (SITRA)

(v) Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY)

(vi) Million Wells Scheme (MWS).

These programmes are merged in SGSY.

The main features are as follows:

(i) The objective of SGSY is to provide the opportunities of self employment to rural poor.

(ii) It aims at establishing a large number of small enterprises in rural areas.

These enterprises will cover all aspects of self-employment:

(a) Organisation of rural poor into self-help groups.

(b) Infrastructure building.

(c) Technology

(d) Credit

(e) Marketing

(iii) Persons assisted under this programme will be called Swarozgaris

(iv) Scheme will organize rural people into self help Groups (SHG). Woman must be given representation in each SHG.

(v) The programme will provide bank credit and Govt. subsidy for starting a business.

(vi) Subsidy under SGSY would be uniform

(a) For individual it would be 30% & For SC/ST it would be 50% subject to the ceiling limit of Rs. 7500 and Rs. 10,000 of project cost respectively.

(b) For SHG, subsidy would be 50% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1.25 lakh.

(vii) The expenditure on SGSY will be shared by the Central & State Govt. in the ratio of 75:25.

(viii) The SGSY will be implemented by DRDA through Panchayat Samiti.

(ix) The progress of this scheme will be evaluated by the concerned banks.

(x) It is proposed to cover 30 percent of the rural per in each block in the next five years.

15. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS):

This scheme has been launched in Feb. 2006 in 200 rural districts of the country and will be extended to 600 districts throughout India. The main objective of this scheme is to provide at least 100 days of unskilled manual work to one person from each rural family at the minimum wage fixed by the State Govt. If the manual work is not provided to beneficiary within 15 days, he will be given unemployment allowance.

Labour oriented tasks like rain water harvesting, rural roads, irrigation channels, renovation of traditional water-bodies, soil conservation and land reclamation etc. will be undertaken under this scheme. Contractors will not be allowed to execute the work. The expenses will be shared by centre and state Govt. in the ratio of 90 : 10 respectively. Out of total workers employed, one third must be women. Centre Govt. allotted Rs. 11,000 crore for this scheme.

16. Other Programmes:

Centre Govt. has launched other programmes of employment and poverty alleviation.

A few of these are listed below:

(i)Pradhan Mantri Gremodayo Yojana (PMGY)

(ii) Pradhan Mantri Gramodayo Yojana (Gramin Awas)

(iii) Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana-Rural drinking water project.

(iv) Antyodya Anna Yojana.

(v) Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAM BAY)