Rural Development Minister inaugurates 9th All India Social Editor’s Conference
SAYS FOCUS IS ON POVERTY ERADICATION AND EMPLOYMENT GENERATION
Union Rural Development Minister Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has reiterated the Governmen/s resolve to work for the cause of Aam aadmi with the emphasis on poverty eradication and employment generation in rural India. Inaugurating ”9th All India Editors’ Conference on Social Sector Issues” here today he said the efficient fiscal management has made it possible with the budgetary allocation of Rs. 1,93,715 crore for his ministry during the last five years of the Government . The focus is on poverty eradication, wage payment, employment generation, enhancement in self-employment and strengthening of rural infrastructure. The two day conference is being attended by Social sector editors from all over the country along with the leading media persons and the columnists from social sector. .
Highlighting the achievements of the ministry the Minister said during the last five years (2004-09) the total budget of the Ministry of Rural Development to Rs.1,93,715 crore. Whereas during 1999-2004 it was only Rs.72,263 crore. It would be appropriate to note that compared to the total 10th five year plan budget provision of Rs.76,000 crore, the current financial year (2008-09) only has been provided with an equal amount. The efficient fiscal management has made it possible and this amount has is being consumed for poverty eradication, wage payment, employment generation, enhancement in self-employment and strengthening of rural infrastructure.
The Minister said that major strides have been made under NREGA with the provision of 100 days of employment on a legal basis to desirous families Through Guaranteed wage employment and by creating permanent employment generating assets and conserving the vast natural resources, the government has changed the face of rural India. Under NREGA more than 30 lakh works have ensured the conservation of natural resources, the ground water table has gone up and more than 3.5 crore families have got ensured employment. He said financial inclusion of rural families has gone up and nearly 6 crore bank/post office accounts have been opened resulting in the financial and social empowerment of rural families
During the last five years the construction of rural roads has shot up on a very high note and so far road length of 3.5 lakh km. have been sanctioned at a construction cost of Rs.88,700 crore and a total of 1.34 lakh km. all weather road have been constructed in this period as compared to 51,511 km. road length constructed during the four year period of 2004-2004.
Under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) during the five year span of 2004-09 104.31 rural houses have been constructed as compared to 61.77 lakh houses of 1999-2004 period.
Under the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) Rs.2,422 crore were released during the 2000-2004 period whereas during the last five years (2004-2009) Rs.5800 crore have been released. A total of 116 crore hectarewasteland was improved during the four year period of 2000-04 compared to the improvement of 150 crore hectare wasteland during the last five years (2004-2009).
Under the National Social Assistance Programme the UPA Government is providing pension to 147 lakh beneficiaries under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) where as only 87 lakh beneficiaries were given assistance during the previous regime.
Of the six components of Bharat Nirman Programme the three components of Rural Roads, Rural Housing and Rural Drinking Water Supply a provision of Rs. 85,000 crore was made for the 2005-2009 period. So far the Ministry of Rural Development has used Rs.61,204 crore and by the year end the investment of 13,492.35 crore is proposed. Under the rural road component Rs.48,000 crore were envisaged for the Bharat Nirman Programme period in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) of which Rs.28,444 crore have been invested and Rs. 8,579 crore are proposed to be invested by the year end. To ensure high quality in rural roads a three tier quality control management has been put in place.
The Total Sanitation Campaign has witnessed remarkable improvement after enhancing the resources and stage is set now to achieve the Millenium Development Goal target by 2012 instead of 2015.. Compared to year 2004 when only 27% Rural families were having toilet facilities now this number has increased to 59%. Compared to the earlier provisions of Rs.625 per unit construction cost of toilets now for plain areas, a provision of Rs. 2,500 and for hill/remote areas a provision of Rs.3000 has been made. The provision of ‘Nirmal Gram Puraskar’ made for promoting and motivating the concerned persons like the PRIs and NGOs under the TSC has resulted in a mass campaign. During 2007-08 more than 1.20 crore families wer provided with toilet facilities. So far more than 59% rural habitations are equipped with toilet facilities.
The Government has also extended the National Social Assistance Programme and has converted it to the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). Now all the persons of 65 years and above age from rural BPL families will be provided Old Age Pension under this scheme. The Central share in this scheme is Rs.200 per person.
To increase the crop enhancement under the rain fed agriculture and to step up the land development programmes the Government has integrated various Area Development Programmes in to the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) which is now running effectively.
Addressing the gathering ,Secretary Department of Land Resources, Rita Sinha outlined the progress towards the computerization of land records ,a major aspect related to land reforms in the country especially in the rural areasUnder the National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) the digitization of land revenue maps, computerization of land records, integration of written and local data, setting up of Tehsil and State level data centres, Computerisation of registration by interconnecting revenue offices along with the interconnecting of Deputy-Regisrar Offices have been planned in next 8 years across the country. It will help in solving land disputes, provide safety to farmers and will result in the increase in the government revenue.
The two day conference will provide a forum to the media persons from regional and local media in different languages to discuss the policy initiatives by the Government under the major flagship programs in social sector.
AKT/ST/-
(Release ID :47215)