CITIZEN'S CHARTER

RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

 

1. INTRODUCTION

The Government of Tamil Nadu have been taking constant efforts for making administration more responsive and transparent.  The Rural Development Department  is committed for strengthening the initiatives of the Government in this regard.

Citizen’s Charter is a tool to improve the quality of service in terms of, standard of performance and right to fulfill the needs of citizens. 

1.1 Objective:

  • To ensure responsive, accountable, transparent and people-friendly administration

  • To clearly state the standards of service delivery.

  • To develop administration that takes the citizens into total confidence.

 

1.2      Service initiatives of the Rural Development Department:

 

The Department strives to improve the quality of life of the rural people .  To achieve this goal the department would endeavour to, 

  • generate employment opportunities that would provide sustained income.

  • ensure food security

  • create infrastructural facilities, including road connectivity, housing, drinking water, electricity,  health facilities,  nutrition and education.   

  • improve  environmental sanitation.

  • decentralise the process of planning with greater participation of Panchayat Raj Institutions.

  • build the capacity of the functionaries of both the department and the local bodies  through training.

  • Sensitise the people on their rights and responsibilities in maintaining quality in civic services.

  • promote people's participation in the development  process.

  • augment the resources of the rural local bodies through devolution and own efforts.

1.3. Standards of Performance:

·        Courteous and helpful service.

·        Registering of requests and complaints with acknowledgement.

·        Reply in 7 days for individual beneficiaries.

·        Reply in 15 days for representation of the general public.

 

 2.  CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES

 

Name of the Schemes

2.1  Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)

2.2 Pradhan Mantri Gromodhaya Yojana (PMGY - Rural   Shelter)

Objective

to construct free dwelling units and improve unserviceable Kutcha houses for SC/STs, non SC/STs  living below the poverty line in rural areas.

Unit Cost

New houses with RCC Roof

     Ordinary Soil     - Rs.32,000/-

     Difficult Soil       - Rs.34,000/-

Improvement of }

Kutcha Houses  }   - Rs.10,000/-

Beneficiary

Identification of Villages and allotment of houses will be finalized by the District Collector.  Beneficiaries will be selected by the Village Panchayat in the Grama Sabha. Construction work will be entrusted to the beneficiaries or done by the concerned Village Panchayat.  According to guidelines 60% of the allocation will be earmarked for SC/STs  and 40% to the non SC/STs. Priority will be given to freed  bonded labourers. Houses will be allotted in the name of the female member of the beneficiary family.


 

Whom to contact 

Respective Village Panchayat President  (or) Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) (or) Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.

 

Name of the Scheme

2.3 INNOVATIVE STREAM FOR RURAL HOUSING AND HABITAT DEVELOPMENT.

 

Objective

To popularise low cost building technology and materials in rural areas.

Implementation

 

 It is a project based programme.  The project contains provisions for housing and infrastructural facilities. Two projects can be implemented in each district.  NGOs can also participate in the project implementation. Special categories of rural poor such as tribals, disabled and the like,  whose housing and habitat needs cannot be fulfilled under normal allotment of regular programmes are given preference under this programme.

Whom to contact 

Respective Village Panchayat President  (or) the Block Development Officer(Village Panchayat) (or) the Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.

 

Name of the Scheme

2.4 PRADHAN  MANTRI  GRAM  SADAK  YOJANA     (PMGSY)

Objective

 To provide connectivity with all weather roads to all unconnected rural habitations with population above 1000 by 2003 and all unconnected habitations having population above 500 by 2007.

Whom to contact 

Block Development Officer (or) Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.

 

Name of the Scheme

2.5 SWARNJAYANTHI GRAM SWAROZGAR YOJANA (SGSY)

Objective

To  promote group based self employment activities among the rural poor, that would provide sustained income. It is a holistic programme covering all aspects of self employment such as organization of the poor into Self Help Groups (SHG), Training, Credit, Technology, Infra-structure and Marketing.

Beneficiaries

Rural people, both SC/STs and non SC/STs who live below the poverty line can avail the programme facilities.  As the programme favours  collective  approach, self help groups consist of 10-20 members have to be formed to begin with. Such SHGs will undergo screening twice before they get graduated to avail credit assistance. In the case of  SHGs taking up minor irrigation activities  the membership can be downsized to five. 

Financial assistance

The programme contemplates multiple injection of  subsidized credit. In the case of group loan subsidy is available upto 50% of  the project cost subject to the ceiling of Rs.1.25 lakh. Individual beneficiaries are eligible for subsidy upto 50% of the unit cost  subject to a ceiling of Rs.10,000/- in the case of SC/STs. In the case of               non SC/STs  the same will be 30% and Rs.7500/- respectively.

Training

The SHG members  will be given training on orientation and skill upgradation.  This apart vocational training will also be given depending on the nature of economic activities chosen by the SHGs. Further special entrepreneurship development programmes will also be organized. 

Infrastructure

Processing,  packaging and marketing  infrastructural support are available in the programme.        

Insurance benefit for beneficiaries

Each member of the Self Help Group is insured and premium is met by Government. In the case of natural death the nominee will get Rs.5,000/- as insurance cover and in the case of deaths by accidents, the nominees will get Rs.10,000/-.

Whom to contact 

Village Panchayat President (or) Block Development Officer  (or) and Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.

 

 

Name of the scheme

2.6 SAMPOORNA GRAMEEN ROZGAR YOJANA (SGRY)

 

Introduced with effect from 01.04.2002 by merging the earlier   schemes of Jawahar Gram Samiridhi Yojana (JGSY) and Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS).

Objective

To provide gainful wage employment opportunities to rural poor along   with creation of durable community assets and food   security.


 

 

Implementation:

Implemented in Two Streams,

Stream-I : Through District Panchayats and Panchayat  

                    Unions. 

 

Stream. II : Through Village Panchayats.

 

Salient features:

·       Foodgrains paid as part of  wages at the rate of     not less than 5 Kg per worker per day (manday).   

·       Minimum 25% of the wage should be in  the form of cash.

·       Ban on contractors.

·       Preference given to labour intensive works.

·       22.5% of funds released under Stream.I, earmarked for individual beneficiary oriented activities benefiting SC/STs.

·      50% of funds under Stream. II to be spent on  infrastructural development in SC/STs hamlets.

·      Selection and entrustment of works done by Local Bodies.

·      Works related to religious purposes, monuments, bridges, buildings for Higher Secondary Schools, Colleges, black topping of roads are banned.

Illustrative list of suggested works.

·       Soil and moisture conservation works, road works upto WBM stage, School building, Noon meal centre building, threshing floor, bus shelter, building for self help groups, street improvement, small cross drainage work, Over Head Tanks, open wells etc. 

Whom to contact

Village Panchayat President (or) Block Development Officer  (or) and Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency .

 

Name of the scheme

2.7 MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LOCAL AREA DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAMME (MPLAD)

Objective

To fill critical gaps in capital and infrastructure facilities.  

Implementation:

 Each Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) is eligible for grant of Rs.2 Crore per year for taking up development schemes in their Constituencies. Each Member of Parliament has to suggest works to be taken up within the framework of the guidelines of the programme. The District Collector will accord administrative sanction for the works. The works will be executed by the concerned departments through open tender system.

 Whom to contact

Member of Parliament (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)   Village Panchayat President (or) Block Development Officer  (or) Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency .

 

 

 

Name of the scheme

2.8 RESTRUCTURED CENTRAL RURAL SANITATION PROGRAMME –  (RCRSP)

Objective

To cover the rural population with toilet facilities and sanitary practices.

Components

 

·       Construction of Household Latrines with subsidy of Rs.500/-

·       Construction of Sanitary Latrines in Schools at a unit cost of  Rs.20,000/- with 10% contribution from the Panchayat Union or Parent Teachers Association.

·       Integrated Sanitary Complexes for Women at a unit cost of Rs.2.25 lakhs.

·       Toilets to Anganwadi  centers.

·        Rural Sanitary Marts for display and sale of hardwares.

 

Implementation:

·            Individual Household Latrines can be constructed either directly by the concerned family members or through NGOs.

·                Institutional toilets are constructed departmentally.

 Whom to contact

Village Panchayat President (or) Block Development Officer (or)  Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.

 

 

 

Name of the scheme

2.9 NATIONAL PROJECT ON BIOGAS DEVELOPMENT

Objective

To promote eco friendly non conventional energy sources for cooking, lighting and running motors.

Benefits

·        Prevention of deforestation.

·        Production of enriched manure.

·        Improvement of sanitation by linking toilets with Biogas plants. 

Subsidy

Subsidy is available to construct Biogas plants of  1 cum - 10 cum. at the following rates.

·        SC/STs/Marginal/Small/  Agri labourers : Rs.2,300/-        

·           Others              : Rs.1,800/-

·           For Nilgiris District :        Uniform rate of Rs.3,200/-

·           Loan assistance at lower rate of interest is provided by the Banks.

·        Rs.700/- to the turnkey agent for installation and maintenance of the plants.

Whom to contact

Block Development Officer (or) Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency .   

 

3.  STATE SCHEMES

Name of the scheme

3.1    MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY   DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

Objective

To bridge critical infra-structural gaps. 

Funding

Rs.82.00 Lakhs allotted for each Assembly Constituency.

Illustrative list of Works

·        Integrated Sanitary Complex for Women.

 

·        Hostels for students belonging to BC/MBC and SC/STs.

·        Office buildings for Village Administrative Officers.

·        Rejuvenation of existing power pump schemes.

·        Sinking of borewells with provision of power pumps.

·        Extension of pipe lines

·        Installation of mini power pumps .    

 

Implementation

Thorough open tender system.

Whom to contact

·        Member of Legislative Assembly 

·        Block Development Officer  (or) Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency.   

 

Name of the scheme

3.2  SELF SUFFICIENCY SCHEME

Objective

To promote and strengthen community participation in planning, execution and maintenance of community assets.

Salient features

·        The scheme is  available  for both urban and rural areas.

·        Not less than 25% of the project cost is borne by the public.

·        Public contribution can be in the form of cash or kind or labour.

·        Proposal for the works can be made by the public to the District Collector.

·        Capital / maintenance works can be taken up.

·        The public/beneficiary groups can execute the works.

·         Technical support is provided by the Government.

 

Whom to contact

Functionaries of Local Bodies (or) Departmental officials including  Project Officer,  District Rural Development Agency .

 

Name of the scheme

3.3 INTEGRATED WOMEN SANITARY COMPLEX FOR WOMEN

Objective

To provide exclusive and comprehensive sanitary facilities for rural women.

Salient features  

·        Toilets

·        Bathing facilities.

·        Washing facilities.

·        Exclusive water source.

·        Provision for rain water harvesting

·        Provision for linking with biogas plants which would be used to generate power for lighting and pumping water.

·         User groups involved in identifying the site , construction  and  maintenance of the complexes.

 

Whom to contact

Functionaries of Local Bodies (or) Block Development Officer (or) the Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency . 

           

Name of the scheme

3.4   CONSTRUCTION OF VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE BUILDINGS

 

Objective

To facilitate the rural people to have easy access to Village Administration. 

Salient features

·        These buildings are located as nearer as possible to the Village Panchayat office.

·        Provides better working condition for the VAOs including safety of the records.

  

4. PANCHAYAT  RAJ  INSTITUTIONS

4.1 VILLAGE PANCHAYAT:

                  There are 12618 Village Panchayats in Tamil Nadu.  Village Panchayats are entrusted with responsibilities which  have to be discharged closer to the people.   President  is the executive authority of the Village Panchayat.  Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) is responsible for monitoring   scheme implementation and functioning of the Village Panchayat.

 4.1.1. Mandatory Functions:

  • Water Supply

  • provide 55 lpcd of protected drinking water  to all the residents

  • provide house connections wherever it is authorised.

  • maintantenance of power pumps, hand pumps other drinking water sources.

  • To buy spares for repair and engage local mechanics to maintain water supply service.

  • Street Lights

  •      provide and maintain streetlights in the inhabited areas. 

     - Purchase electrical spares with ISI-9000 brand locally, after getting Panchayat's approval and use it for maintaining streetlights.

·        Sanitation

- Construction and maintanance of public toilets.

- Promote institutional and individual household latrines.

- Keep the village clean and ensure hygiene.

- Effective management of bio-degradable solid and liquid waste.

 - Safe disposal of non-bio degradable waste.

- Promotion renewable energy sources.

·        Streets

      - Cleaning the streets and maintaining them in good condition

      - Cut stones, concrete and   bituminous surface.

·      Maintenance of Village Panchayat Roads.

Laying, improvement and maintenance of Village Panchayat  roads.

·        Burial  and Cremation grounds

      Maintenance of burial ground and cremation yard.   

 

 4.1.2. Discretionary duties

·        Planting of trees along the margin of Village roads or other roads.

·        Lighting of public roads and public areas.

·        Opening and maintenance of public markets and regulation of private markets as a remunerative activity for the Village Panchayat.

·        Conduct of fairs and festivals.

·        Opening and maintenance of bus stand, bus shelter, car-stand, cart stand and public cattle shed.

·        Establishment and maintenance of public library

·        Establishment of recreation centers and other facilities.

·        Creation of community assets like building for Public distribution shops, Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies, Culverts etc.

 

4.1.3. Development Functions:

·        Prioritisation of the needs of the Village and preparation of village development plan through the Grama Sabha. 

·        Selection of  beneficiaries in the Grama Sabha for schemes implemented through  the Village Panchayats.

·        Location of Community assets.

·        Execution of works under schemes implemented through the Village Panchayats.

·        Provide market facilities for Self Help Groups. 

4.1.4. Financial Resources:

·            house tax, Profession tax, tax on agricultural land for a specific purpose and advertisement tax.

·            fees on licenses, permissions and services rendered. 

·            income by  growing trees, orchards, medicinal plants etc in the village waste land.  

·            income from the Panchayat assets through rents and lease.

·            assigned revenue like Local cess, entertainment tax, stamps duty, grant from State and Central Finance Commissions.

·         grant under equalisation and incentive fund.

·            development grants under various Government sponsored programmes implemented through village panchayats.

4.1.5. Grama Sabha

      Grama Sabha is the assemblage of all the voters of the Village Panchayat.    Grama Sabha meetings will ensure transparency, and accountability of the administration to the public.  

 

- How Grama Sabha meets?

·        Village Panchayats should conduct Grama Sabha meetings atleast four times a year on Jan. 26, May 1st, August 15th and Oct. 2nd.

·        All the eligible voters are the members of the Grama Sabha.

·        Subjects for discussion will be decided by the Village Panchayats.

·        Notice for Grama Sabha meeting should be issued atleast one week before the meeting.

·        One tenth of the members shall  attend the Grama Sabha meeting to fulfill the quorum.

·        Village Panchayat President presides over the meeting.

 

            - What are the functions of Grama Sabha?

·        Approves the annual development plan of the Village Panchayat.

·        Approves the list of beneficiaries for individual oriented schemes and the places selected to construct community assets.

·        Review and advise on the progress and implementation of the development programmes.

·        Supervision and monitoring of quality of works implemented by the Village Panchayats through social and technical audit.

·        Consideration of annual audit report and accounts.

·        Promotion of social integration and religious harmony.

- A Constitutional Institution for social audit

The Grama Sabha should act as an institution of social audit.

·        In every Grama Sabha meeting receipts and expenditure of the current year, works taken up, the vouchers of all the purchases, acquitances, salary paid  to the panchayat staff,  measurement book etc should be placed for public scrutiny.

·        The funds allocated to the Village Panchayat for development and other schemes should be checked to know whether the allocated funds are utilised properly.

4.2 PANCHAYAT UNION

            Panchayat Union is the intermediate tier of rural local bodies and is equipped with adequate, administrative, technical manpower.  The Chairman of the Panchayat Union Council is indirectly elected by the members of the council.  Block Development Officer (Block Panchayat) is the executive officer of the Panchayat Union Council. 

4.2.1. Functions:

·        Construction, repair and maintenance of Panchayat Union roads and Bridges.

·        Maintenance of Panchayat Union minor irrigation tanks and channels.

·        Construction and maintenance of Elementary and Middle school Buildings

·        Establishment of rural dispensaries and providing health services.

·        Establishment and maintenance of Maternity and Child W