Government Schemes for Rural Development in India

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005:

    • The scheme was introduced as a social measure that guarantees “the right to work”.
    • The Ministry of Rural Development monitors the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.
    • It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fixes their priority.
    • Social Audit of MGNREGA works is mandatory, which leads to accountability and transparency.
    • For the financial year 2021-22, 2.95 crore persons have been offered work, thus, completing 5.98 lakh assets and generating 34.56 crore person-days.

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):

  • It is a centrally sponsored programme, launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in June 2011.
  • To eliminate rural poverty through the promotion of multiple livelihoods and improved access to financial services for the rural poor households across the country.
  • Revolving Fund and Community Investment Fund amounting to approximately Rs. 56 Crore released to women SHGs in FY 2021 as compared to approximately Rs. 32 Crore in the same corresponding period in FY 2020.
  • Training on farm and non-Farm based livelihoods, on covid management and promotion of Agri-Nutri gardens.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):

    • To provide connectivity, by way of an all-weather road to unconnected habitations.
    • Unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, Deserts and Tribal Areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population.
    • Highest length of road has been completed under PMGSY in the comparable period over the last 3 years.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin:

    • To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f 1st April, 2016.
    • To help rural people below the poverty line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
    • People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, Disabled persons and Minorities.
    • Beneficiaries are chosen according to data taken from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011.
    • Highest expenditure amounting to Rs. 5854 Cr in FY 2021-22; double than the FY 2020-21 in the comparable period.

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY):

  • a Government of India initiative for the empowerment of deprived sections, aims to achieve integrated development of selected villages through convergent implementation of all relevant Central and State schemes..

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY):

  • It is a village development project launched by Government of India in October 2014, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
  • The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAANJHI) was launched on on 11th October, 2014.
  • The goal is to develop three Adarsh Grams by March 2019, of which one would be achieved by 2016. Thereafter, five such Adarsh Grams (one per year) will be selected and developed by 2024.

National Rurban Mission (NRuM):

  • The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) aims at developing such rural areas by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.
  • The Mission aims at development of 300 Rurban clusters, in the next five years.
  • The National Rurban Mission (NRuM) follows the vision of “Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of “Rurban Villages”.
  • The objective of the National Rurban Mission (NRuM) is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

  • Itis a welfare programme being administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • This programme is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas.
  • NSAP represents a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution of India which enjoin upon the State to undertake within its means a number of welfare measures.
  • These are intended to secure for the citizens adequate means of livelihood, raise the standard of living, improve public health, provide free and compulsory education for children etc.
  • In particular, Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development.

Mission Antyodaya: 

  • It seeks to converge government interventions with Gram Panchayats as the basic unit for planning by following a saturation approach by pooling resources – human and financial – to ensure sustainable livelihoods.