Rural Development

POLICY NOTE -  2003- 2004

DEMAND No. 40

I. INTRODUCTION

The Rural Development Department is committed to Economic Development of the rural poor with Social Justice. The Department is engaged in implementing a number of schemes, which aim at enabling the rural poor to improve the quality of their lives.

The visionary Hon’ble Chief Minister has drawn up a development plan, which has concern for environmental imperatives. Accordingly environmental sanitation and over all habitat development will be given focus during the year 2003-04. The department would strive to achieve and fulfil the aims and objectives of 15 points development agenda of the Hon’ble Chief Minister. Generation of gainful employment opportunities, creation of adequate infrastructural facilities and food security are given high priority. Housing, connectivity, clean drinking water and sanitation are the major areas of focus of the department. Proper and vibrant functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions is critical for ensuring sustained and holistic development of the villages. Capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions is therefore an important task being given due priority by the Department.

2. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2002-2003

Good performance during the year enabled the department to access additional funds and food grains from the Centre under the following major programmes.

2.1. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)

This is a centrally sponsored programme, which aims at generating wage employment opportunities and food security to the rural poor.

The state received additional central assistance to the tune of Rs.46.17 crores, an increase by 27.87 % over the original allotment of Rs.165.43 crores. The centre has also released 52,893 MTs of rice worth Rs.62.41 crores, which is 25.44% over the original allotment of 2,07,118 MTs.

105.78 lakh mandays were additionally generated, an increase of 25.54% over the original annual target of 414.24 lakh mandays.

84,657 works including 8165 village ponds, 6779 Threshing floors and 5655 buildings for Self Help Groups were taken up.

1,25,000 MTs of rice worth Rs.147.50 crores was allotted additionally by the Centre under the Special Component of SGRY. This would generate 178.57 lakh mandays exclusively in the drought affected areas.

State Government released additionally Rs. 85.48 crores to meet the cash portion of wages to be paid to the labourers.

2.2. Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (S.G.S.Y)

This is a centrally sponsored programme designed to provide different packages of assistance to the rural poor for taking up self employment activities.

30,160 rural women and 6,745 rural youth were given special entrepreneurship development training.

The state received additional central assistance of Rs.5.92 crores, an increase of 22% over the annual Central allocation of Rs.27.13 crores.

A Special Project to benefit self help groups of physically disabled persons in Coimbatore District has been sanctioned by the Centre at a cost of Rs.3.80 crores.

A Special Project for comprehensive rehabilitation of physically handicapped and mentally retarded persons at a cost of Rs. 2.10 crores has been sanctioned by the Centre to Ramnad district.

Study report of the Government of India conducted through the Centre for Management Development, Thiruvananthapuram, has placed Tamil Nadu, first among the better performing major states in the country in the implementation of S.G.S.Y.

2.3. DRDA Administration

Additional Central assistance of Rs.2.51 crores received, an increase of 21% over the annual central allotment of Rs.12 crores.

2.4. Integrated Rural Housing Programme

Additional Central assistance of Rs.1.44 crores received, an increase of 2.38% over the annual Central allotment of Rs.60.61 crores.

2.5. Total Sanitation Campaign

The objective of the programme is to promote sanitary and hygienic practices among the rural poor with greater emphasis on Information, Education and Communication activities. It is already under implementation in 16 districts.

The Centre has additionally sanctioned projects in respect of Thoothukudi, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Salem Sivagangai and Thiruvallur Districts.

This would cover

Thuckalay and Melpuram blocks in Kanniyakumari district declared as the first totally sanitised blocks in the country.

The unit cost of Integrated Sanitary Complex for women has been enhanced from Rs.2.00 lakhs to Rs.2.25 lakhs with improved facilities.

User groups involved in the maintenance of sanitary complexes.

2.6. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

The State received additional allotment of Rs.35.00 crores, which is 43.75% over the original allotment of Rs.80.00 crores.

National Quality Monitors have commended quality of works. 91.78% of 353 road works inspected by them have been classified as very good and good which is an All India Record.

3. BUDGET PROVISION - 2003-2004

Under Demand No.40, total outlay of Rural Development Department is Rs.1855.21 crores of which Rs.906.13 crores is for plan schemes as detailed below:- 

(Rs. in Thousands)