.
Balika Samridhi Yojana (BSY)
Started in 1997, the scheme is known to very few villagers. In fact, the scheme exists more on janapad files than having any impact in villages.
Alternatives:
The yojana requires village-level publicity, mere wall-painting at the Janapad Office is insufficient, for being properly understood, utilized and getting more popular.
Meant for those belonging to scheduled castes and living below poverty line (BPL), IAY is relatively well known (65% of men and women know it). This is so mainly because of two reasons: Firstly, it fulfils one of the basic needs of owning a house and, secondly, it is grant-based, that is, the beneficiary does not have to worry about its repayment back. In the present study sample, however, only 42% of the respondents have benefited from the scheme.
The study uncovers several bottlenecks in the smooth and effective implementation of IAY:
1. Very low targets are set
although the demand is very large.
2. In its implementation, it is found, myriad forms of corruption creep
in:
- Unscrupulous relatives, Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary collude to manipulate the list of beneficiary candidates.
- Favouring persons other than more needy candidates after taking bribe.
- Other forms of malpractice indulged in
by gram-panchayat secretaries:
- Short payment (often by two-thirds) to beneficiaries
- Payment in kind, the GP secretary acting as middleman / contractor.
- Supply of substandard construction material.
- Re-sell of IAY-house to otherwise a genuine beneficiary.
Alternatives could be suggested:
- Number of target beneficiaries needs to be increased
- Money disbursement for IAY-house be done in front of other beneficiaries for transparency
- Proper monitoring for timely payment of installments
- Selection of beneficiaries finalized at Gram Panchayat level and not at the block level, as is required under the scheme.
.
Integrated Rural Development
Programme (IRDP)
As is known, the programme has now been merged with the other schemes as SJSY.
Suggestions:
- Validity of purpose behind the merger needs to be assessed.
- Its funds could also be utilized to increase target number for schemes more in demand, like IAY, RBP, etc.
.
Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY)
The Yojana is a restructured, streamlined and more comprehensive version of erstwhile Jawahar Rojgar Yojana. It involves building of infrastructure, creation of community assets and, hence, generation of employment.
Bottlenecks:
- JGSY is known only by Janapad functionaries.
- It is least understood by the target groups.
- Seldom is its implementation goal-oriented.
Alternatives:
- Publicity campaigns on JGSY in villages, particularly those having substantial BPL population.
- Reevaluation of the scheme at a higher (national) level to assess its intrinsic worth.
Women are almost totally ignorant about this government scheme which is so important for land development.
.
Matratva Sahayata Yojana (MSY):
Under this welfare scheme financial support is provided to pregnant women for pre-natal care as better nutrition. The grant is supposed to be released in 3 installments during pregnancy but, in most of the cases, a lump sum is given after the delivery (the amount is used for buying sweets to distribute amongst the relatives). This apart, very few villagers are aware of MSY and still fewer benefit from it.
Bottlenecks:
- Neither development functionaries nor village people understand or appreciate the purpose of the scheme.
- When sanctioned and released, the money is rarely used for improving reproductive and child health (RCH).
Alternatives:
- Young and middle-aged villagers, esp. women and girls, need to be sensitized on RCH.
- Further, disbursement of the grant should be done publicly and only to the beneficiary, namely, expectant mother.
.
Moolbhoot Adho Sarchna (MAS)
Yet another scheme which is scantily known among village people. It has very negligible impact (except in one gram panchayat).
Bottlenecks:
- the scheme is known only to Janapad functionaries.
- It is least understood by prospective beneficiaries.
- It is grossly under-utilized.
Alternatives:
- Sensitization of village community.
- Publicity.
- People’s participation for worthwhile use and impact.
.
Rajiv Gandhi Jal Mission (RGJM)
Implemented by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, it is one of the most popular and successful schemes. However, it has been implemented in only Kesala block. Here, 70-80 villagers have been benefited directly and 300–400 indirectly from increase in ground water level. Success of programme could be traced to several factors:
- it is need-based.
- Its benefits reach out to the entire community.
- It readily enlists the participation of villagers.
- It has spin-off that generates employment.
- In its implementation, it has fewer problems of coordination as only limited number of government departments and non-government organizations are involved.
Bottlenecks:
- there are points of conflicts for selection of site of operation (check dams)
- group activity often goes by the whims of village leaders
- Among villagers, it often leads to ego clashes.
- at times Procedural delays, particularly for the payment of completed works and committee meetings cause frustration and disaffection among villagers.
Alternatives:
- For the implementation, even better well-knit team with good leadership needs to be put together.
- Villagers need to be sensitized more frequently on watershed management.
.
Rashtriya Bridhawastha Pension (RBP):
At the village-level, the RBP is not as well known, as it should have been. Only about 20 % respondents know of the scheme, men are even less informed. On the other hand, the relevance of RBP to the rural scene is high:
- Trend of nuclear families is fast reaching down to villages, posing problems of maintenance of the elderly;
- Able-bodied adults migrate to towns / cities leaving behind the old to fend for themselves; and
- Non-availability of suitable occupational opportunities for the bridh.
Several bottlenecks have been observed:
- Inappropriate BPL selection criteria;
- Ceiling on the number of RBP beneficiaries;
- Lengthy and time-consuming procedures; and
- Undue favour to persons other than the needy and deserving candidates, perhaps on account of illegal gratification.
Alternatives:
- Number of elderly in a village/Janapad who could be granted RBP be increased.
- Fresh lists of persons below poverty line are prepared in Gram Sabha meetings.
- Names of those recommended for or sanctioned RBP be read / announced in Gram Sabha meetings.
.
Rashtriya Parivar Sahayata Yojana (RPSY)
Under this Yojana, lump-sum money is given on the death of a breadwinner in the family in order to shield dependents from undue hardship.
Bottlenecks:
- Objectives of the scheme either not understood or not sufficiently appreciated by the village community.
- Fund mis-utilization for mrityubhoj
- Bribe at the time of sanction or release of grant.
- Delays or denial of RPSY in case of a woman headed house or in case concerned officials are not placated.
Alternatives:
- regular awareness of BPL and minority group candidates in Gram-Sabha meetings
- Disbursement of grant during the meetings of Gram Sabha or Gram Panchayat
- Sensitization of Gram and Janapad Panchayat functionaries on efficient and honest working.
.
Swaran Jayanti Swarojgar Yojana (SJSY)
Started only a year back, it is as yet in infancy. Nonetheless, it needs careful handling as it appears as complicated as family credit plan scheme under IRDP, and has too many objectives to fulfill.
Apparent Bottlenecks:
- For Project preparation under the scheme, approval and implementation ‘swarojgaris’ heavily depend on block and district officials.
- Chances of delay and corruption are larger as several departments are simultaneously involved.
