ABSTRACT

Rural Development – Budget Announcement 2004-05 - "Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Programme" - Implementation – Approval of guidelines - Orders issued.

Rural Development (SGSY) Department

G.O.Ms.No.21
Dated: 25.2.2005

Read:

-000-

ORDER:-

During Budget Speech 2004-05, among others it was announced that, in order to reduce poverty in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, new Programme called "Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Programme" would be implemented. The Director of Rural Development in the letter read above has submitted a proposal for approval of guidelines for implementation of "Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Programme". This scheme will meet the basic life time needs of the poorest of the poor in each Village Panchayat. The Programme will cover the 25 poorest households in every Village Panchayat with package of assistance covering Livelihood Security, Nutrition Security, Health Security and Shelter Security.

2) The Government, after careful examination decided to accept the above proposal of the Director of Rural Development. Accordingly Government hereby approve the guidelines, for the implementation of Empowerment and Poverty Reduction Programme, as in the annexure to this Order. The Director of Rural Development shall be the monitoring authority. The report on the implementation of the Programme along with progress of achievement on both physical and financial targets shall be sent to Government on quarterly basis.

3) This order issues with the concurrence of Finance Department vide its U.O.No.72A/DS(B)/05, dated 25.2.2005.

(By Order of the Governor)

SANTHA SHEELA NAIR
Secretary to Government.

To

The Director of Rural Development, Chennai-15.

All District Collectors (except Chennai)

The Accountant General, Chennai - 18

All Project Officers of District Rural Development Agencies.

The Managing Director, TAHDCO, Chennai-5.

The Executive Officer, TNCDW, Chennai-32.

Copy to:-

Rural Development (P2) Department, Chennai-9

Finance (RD/BGII) Department/ Planning, Development & Special Initiatives /

Housing & Urban Development / Health & Family Welfare / Revenue /

Social Welfare & Nutritious Meal Programme Department / Backward Class & Most Backward Class / Adi-Dravida & Tribal Welfare / Agriculture /

School Education Department, Chennai-9.

//Forwarded By Order//

Section Officer.

ANNEXURE

1. Objectives of the Scheme

The objective of the scheme will be,

a) to attend to the basic life time concerns of Ultra Poor in rural areas which includes concern for livelihood security, nutrition security, shelter security, Health security.

b) Empowering the targeted Ultra Poors.

c) Institutionalization of State response to the poor.

2. Identification of the Ultra Poor.

a) The poorest of poor households (ultra poor) in each Village will be identified through 2002 Socio Economic Survey conducted by Rural Development Department and a maximum of 25 persons/ families will be selected for each village.

b) The list of the selected Ultra Poor families should be placed before the Grama Sabha for approval. After approval, the list should be displayed in the notice board of Village Panchayat. If there is any wrong procedure adopted in the selection of 25 ultra poor families, the same may be brought to the notice of Block Development Officer of the concerned union within the 15 days of display of the approved list.

c) On getting such complaint, the Block Development Officer should visit the village, enquire the matter and pass orders on selection of ultra poor families within 7 days from the date of the complaint received. If there is no complaint made in the selection of ultra poor families, the list approved by the Grama Sabha will be final.

3. Identification of requirement of the ultra poor

The requirement of the ultra poor should be identified by using the services of teachers/ RWOs/ Anganvadis and to this effect a format may be devised and circulated.

4. Implementation of the Programme.

The programme will be implemented to cover about 3 lakhs families before the end of 2005-2006.

5. Delivery Mechanism

The women members of the ultra poor family may be enrolled as members of Self Help Groups. The members of the ultra poor families should be provided access to the Public Distribution System, Rural Housing programme, quality Health facilities, free dhoti saree schemes etc., through Self Help Groups and wherever there is no Self Help Groups, the local body can undertake this work.

6. Shelter Security

Under IAY and PMGY programme construction of the new houses or upgradation of the Kutcha houses may be carried out to the Ultra Poor families. Those who are not having house site for construction of house, pattas can be issued through Adi-Dravida Welfare, BC & MBC and Revenue Departments.

7. Nutrition Security

a) A new family card may be issued to those who are not having family ration card.

b) If the members of the ultra poor family are very old and destitute, they may be enrolled under the Old Age Pensioners Scheme and provided food through Noon Meal Centres.

c) 30 Kgs of rice can also be supplied by enrolment under Anna Antyodaya Scheme.

8. Health Security

a) The sub-centre ANM should have identified ultra poor persons taken to Primary Health Centre for health check up.

b) Follow up action to provide Government hospital services should be taken.

c) Community Health Insurance Schemes may be provided.

d) State illness fund may be extended to support the hospitalized cases.

e) Morbidity to be tackled.

f) Treatment may be given to alleviate the drunkenness/ Alcocholisen.

9. Other measures

The following welfare measures may be given to the eligible:-

a) Preference may be given to widow, agriculture, labourers and old age pensioners/ Destitute, widow pensioners.

b) Special insurance schemes, if any may be provided.

c) Bi-cycle/ tricycle, tools, iron box, tailoring machine may be provided to them under the existing programme through BC & MBC and SW Departments.

d) child labour to be targeted.

e) It must be ensured that school going children/ school aged children should go to school.

f) Innovative and alternative education may be provided to the children of the ultra poor in order to avoid drop outs from the school.

g) Adult member may be made literate through Continuing Education.

h) Milch animals/ goats may be supplied under the existing schemes through Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments.

i) Income generation activities may be provided through SGSY schemes.

j) They may be given Daily employment under the National Food for Work Programme.

k) Loan facilities may be extended to the beneficiaries identified through Banks to improve their income.

10. Issue of Identity Card

The head of the Ultra Poor family maybe issued with photo identity card in order to have access to various departments and to have benefits of the various welfare schemes.

11. Dovetailing the other schemes.

The Schemes of other Departments may be synergized, to achieve the self-reliance of the selected families.

12. Counseling

Counseling may be done through competent persons to the members of Ultra poor families for their behaviour change and to improve their quality of living.

SANTHA SHEELA NAIR
Secretary to Government.

/True Copy/

Section Officer.