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This article throws light upon the top seven programmes for generation of employment.
Programme # 1. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY):
It was launched as an integrated programme for self-employment of the rural poor with effect from 1st April 1999.
It has replaced the following programmes:
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1. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) (started in 1978-79).
2. Training Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM) (started in 1978-79).
3. Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) (started in 1978-79).
4. Million Wells Scheme (MWS) (started in 1989).
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Thus this SGSY programme takes into account all the strengths and weaknesses of the earlier self-employment programme.
Objectives of SGSY:
1. To bring the assisted poor families above the poverty line.
2. By organising them into Self Help Groups (SHGs) through the process of social mobilization, their training and capacity building and provision of income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy.
3. The scheme provides for involvement of NGOs/Banks/Self Help promoting institutions in nurturing and development of SHGs including skill development.
4. The focus of the programme is on establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in rural areas based on the ability of the poor and potential of each area, both land based and otherwise for sustainable income generation.
Programme # 2. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY):
It was launched on 25 September, 2001 by merging the on-going schemes of EAS (Employment Assurance Scheme) and the JGSY (Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana) with the objective of providing additional wage employment and food security, alongside creation III durable community assets in rural areas.
The programme is self-targeting in nature with provisions for special emphasis on women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and parents of children withdrawn from hazardous occupations. While preference is given to BPL families for providing wage employment under SGRY, poor families above the poverty line can also be offered employment whenever NREGA has been launched.
The annual outlay for the programme is Rs. 10,000 crore which Includes 50 lakh tonnes on food grains. The cash component is shared between the centre and the states in the ratio of 75: 25. Food grains are provided free of cost to the states/UTs. The payment III food grain is made directly to FCl at economic cost by the centre.
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However, state governments are responsible for the cost of transportation of food grains from FCl godown to work site and its distribution. Minimum wages are paid to the workers through a mix 111′ minimum five kg. of food grains and at least 25 percent of wages In cash.
Allocation/off take of food grains under the scheme during 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 is as under : (Figure in Lakhs):
The programme is implemented by all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj institutions. Each level of panchayati is an independent unit for formulation of action plan and executing the scheme. Resources are distributed among District Panchayat, Intermediate Panchayats and the Gram Panchayats in the ratio of 20 : 30 : 50.
Programme # 3. National Social Assistance Programme (NSA) and Annapurna Scheme:
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) consisting of National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) and National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) was being administered by Ministry of Rural Development till the programme was transferred to the state plan along with the Annapurna Scheme from 2002-03.
After transfer of the schemes, state-wise allocation of Additional Central Assistance (ACA) is made by the Ministry of Rural Development and Planning Commission.
The scale of central assistance under NOAPS is Rs. 75/- per month for providing pension to a destitute aged 65 years and above. Under NFBS Rs. 10,000 is being provided in the event of death of the primary bread earner of the family.
Under Annapurna scheme 10 kg. of food grains per month per person is provided free of cost to the beneficiaries. The food grain is released to the stale governments on the existing norms at BPL rates. The Finance Minister in the budget speech for the year 2006-07 has announced an increase in pension under NOAPS from Rs. 75/ per month per beneficiary to Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary.
Programme # 4. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY):
With a view to meet the housing needs of the rural poor, Indira Awaas Yojana was launched in May 1985 as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY). It is being implemented as an independent scheme since 1st January 1996.
It aims at helping rural people below the poverty line belonging to SCs and STs, free bonded labourers and non SCs and STs Category in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing grant-in-aid.
From 1995-96 the lAY benefits have been extended to widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action. Benefits have also been extended to ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces as long as they fulfil the normal eligibility conditions. Three percent of funds are reserved for disabled persons living below the poverty line in rural areas. Selection of lAY is done by the Gram Sabha. Selection of construction technology, materials and design is left entirely to the choice of beneficiaries.
Programme # 5. Emergency Feeding Programme (EFP):
It is a food-based intervention targeted for old, infirm and destitute persons below BPL households to provide them food security in their distress conditions. This was introduced in May 2001. This scheme is being implemented by Government of Orissa in 8 (KBK) Districts namely Koraput Bolangir, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Nawarangpur Nuapada, Rayagada and Sonepur covering 2 lakh beneficiaries. Under the food grains (Rice) at BPL rates are being allocated to state government since May 2001 by Department of Food Distribution.
During 2006-07, 14,40,000 MT of rice was allocated for the 2 lakh beneficiaries. The funds were earlier provided from the Additional Central Assistance (ACA) but now it has been termed as Special Central Assistance (SCA). The scheme is being implemented in many more districts under the Revised Long Tenn Action Plan (RLTAP) and SCA is allocated by planning commission.
Following quantities of rice have been allocated during 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 under the scheme.
Programme # 6. Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY):
To provide employment opportunities to the educated unemployed Youth to urban as well as rural areas, the government is Implementing PMRY in the country from 2nd October 1993. Under this scheme educated unemployed youth between the age group of 18-35 years (upper age limit relaxed upto 45 years for women, SC/ST, Ex-servicemen and physically handicapped) who have passed 8th standard examination and whose family income is less than Rs. 40,000 per annum are eligible lo gel loans for all economically viable activities.
Projects up to Rs. one lakh for business sector and Rs. two lakh for other activities are covered under this scheme. The margin money contribution from the beneficiary varies from 5 percent to 16.25 percent of project cost.
Loans for projects under industry sector are given without collateral security and for projects under services and business sector loans up to Rs. one lakh are given without collateral security. Though there is no reservation for women, as per the existing guidelines, preference is given to women candidates.
Each entrepreneur whose loan is sanctioned is provided training under the scheme. The scheme is implemented through District Industries Centre (DlC), State Directorates of Industries and the banks.
Since the inception of the PMRY, the disbursement of loan has been made in 22.86 lakh cases generating about 34.29 lakh employments till March 31st, 2005.
During 2005-06, about 2.27 lakh persons have been sanctioned loans and the disbursement has been made in 1.39 lakh cases (as on February 2006) against the target for assisting of 2.5 lakh units under this scheme.
It is expected that the target of sanctioning loans for 2.5 lakh units under the PMRY during 2005-06 would be achieved. For the year 2006-07, a target of 2.55 lakh cases has been fixed for generating 3.825 lakh Job opportunities under the scheme.
Programme # 7. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):
The Government launched the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for the poorest of the poor on 25th December 2000. Under this scheme 25 kg. of food grain was made available to each eligible family al highly subsidized rates of Rs. 2/- per kg. for wheat and Rs. 3/- per kg. for rice. This quantity has been enhanced from 25 kg. to 35 kg. from 1st April 2002.
There are about one crore Antyodaya families in the county. The identification of these families is carried out by the state government and Union Territory Administration from among the BPL families in each state/UT.
In June 2003, the government has expanded the AAY scheme to cover 50 lakh BPL families from amongst the following priority groups:
(i) Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
(ii) Widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
(iii) All primitive tribal households. The AAY has been further expanded by another 50 lakh BPL families from 1st August 2004 by including inter alia, all households at the risk of hunger. As announced in the Union Budget 2005-06, the AAY has been further expanded to cover another 50 lakh BPL households thus increasing its overage to 2.5 crore households.
In this expansion the thrust will be on the BPL households in the poorest and backward blocks and/or where nutritional deficiency is more widespread.