Friday, December 24 2004 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government committed to fulfilling the basic requirements of the rural poor and the unemployed, the budgetary allocation for rural development for 2004-05 was placed at a massive Rs 15,998 crore with emphasis on providing employment to those below the poverty line (BPL) and also encouraging artisans through Gram Sabhas and Self Help Groups.

Food for Work Programme

As part of the commitment, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on November 14, launched the Food for Work Programme, which is to cover 150 backward districts of the country initially.

All States, except Goa, will have at least one district each covered under the programme, which focuses on water conservation, drought proofing, flood control, land development and rural connectivity.

A 100 per cent Centrally sponsored scheme, the programme aims to provide 100 days of supplementary wage employment to one member of each BPL family in identified districts. Wages are paid in cash and foodgrains.

Five kgs of foodgrains would be provided at BPL rates for each manday to the beneficiaries. Works can be executed by the Departments, Panchayati Raj Institutions or reputed NGOs and Self Help Groups.

Government has developed a strict monitoring mechanism to ensure that the programme is implemented effectively.

Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana

For 2004-05, Rs 2,020 crore in cash and 20 lakh tonnes of foodgrains will be provided for the programme in addition to Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) allocations. For the full year, the requirement will be around Rs 5,400 crore and 37 lakh tonnes of foodgrains.

"The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing all schemes with utmost sensitivity with pro-poor attitude at all levels," said Minister of Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who in a bid to involve Members of Parliament in the various schemes of the Ministry even had an interaction with them.

Employment guarantee Bill

Besides, efforts were on by the Ministry to bring the Bill guaranteeing employment for 100 days annually for one member of every rural household below the poverty line.

The winter session which ended yesterday saw the Bill being introduced and has now been referred to a Parliamentary Committee.

As part of the exercise, Singh held several rounds of meetings with the concerned Ministers of State Governments.

The plan allocation for the Ministry has been increasing manifold over the years. As against the Ninth Plan outlay of Rs 42,874 crore, the Tenth Plan allocation of funds for the Ministry is pegged at Rs 76,774 crore.

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

In the field of rural employment under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), the fund is shared between the Centre and the State on 75:25 basis. The SGSY budget allocation for 2004-2005 is Rs 1,000 crore. Of this, funds upto 15 per cent can be utilized for Special Projects.

Since the launching of this scheme in 1999 till date, 18.38 lakh Self Help Groups have been formed and a total of 48.18 lakh Swarozgaris have been assisted with a total investment of Rs 10,006.63 crore.