POVERTY ALLEVIATION programmes

Introduction:
Poverty in India : an overview
India is a haven to 22% of the world’s poor. At the beginning of the
new millennium, 260 million people in the country did not have
incomes to access a consumption basket which defines the poverty
line. Of these, 75 per cent were in rural areas. Such a high incidence
of poverty is a matter of apprehension, in view of the fact that poverty
eradication has been one of the major objectives of the development
process.  Poverty eradication is considered integral to humanity’s
mission for sustainable development. Thus, reduction of poverty in
India is vital for the attainment of international goals. The philosophy
underlying the poverty alleviation programs is to tackle the rural
poverty by endowing the poor with productive assets and training for
raising their skills so that they are assured of a regular stream of
employment and income in raising themselves above the poverty line.

The Poverty Line

The concept of basic human needs has recently gained favour in the
thinkingof experts concerned with new strategies of development for
poor countries.These thinkers are unanimous in their agreement that
production and planningmust be specifically geared to the satisfaction
of these needs. Poverty is thecondition where human beings are not
able to meet the basic needs of life.One way to determine the number
of people in this condition is to use theconcept of the “poverty line.”
There are several indicators we can use to determine where to draw
this line:·
. per capita income
· household consumption
· per capita consumption of specific items such as cereals
· proportion of expenditure on food items
· calorie intake

Over population and poverty – its time to wake

up ......
A number of factors are responsible for poverty in the rural areas of India. Rural
populations primarily depend on agriculture, which is highly dependant on rain
patterns and the monsoon season. Inadequate rain and improper irrigation
facilities can obviously cause low, or in some cases, zero production of crops.
Additionally, the Indian family unit is often large, which can amplify the effects
of poverty. Also, the caste system still prevails in India, and this is a major
reason for rural poverty - people from the lower casts are often deprived of the
most basic facilities and opportunities. The phenomenal increase in population
in the cities is one of the main reasons for poverty in the urban areas of India. A
major portion of this additional population is due to the large scale migration of
rural families from villages to cities. This migration is mainly attributed to poor
employment opportunities in villages.

Poverty alleviation : the need for a direct attack

A large proportion of the Indian population is not in a position to meet
basic needs as defined in terms of employment, consumption, health,
nutrition, life expectancy, child mortality, and literacy, opportunities
for schooling, and access to public goods or property. As a long-term
measure for the eradication of poverty and improving the quality of
life, broad-based literacy and basic education for all is the main
foundation and an essential precondition. Thus, in the developing
countries, raising literacy and education levels should be viewed as
the principal instrument of poverty eradication. It is recognized that a
dramatic increase in incomes is by itself not enough to improve the
quality of life of the poor. Unless all citizens, especially the poor,
have certain basic minimum services, their living conditions cannot
improve. These minimum services include, among other things,
literacy, education, primary health care and safe drinking water.
The Government of India has identified seven basic minimum
services: safe drinking water, primary health care facilities, universal
primary education, nutrition for school and preschool children, shelter
for the poor, accessible roads for all communities, and a public
distribution system with a focus on the poor. The Ninth Plan (1997-
2002) places special emphasis on these seven basic minimum services
and their provision in partnership with State governments and local
government institutions.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN RURAL INDIA –

PROGRAMMES and stratigies
Alleviation of poverty remains a major challenge before the
Government. While there has been a steady decline in rural poverty
over the last two decades, there were 244 million rural poor (37 per
cent of the rural population) in the country in 1993-94, as per the
latest available estimates. Acceleration of economic growth, with a
focus on sectors which are employment-intensive, facilitates the
removal of poverty in the long run. However, this strategy needs to
be complemented with a focus laid on provision of basic services for
improving the quality of life of the people and direct State
intervention in the form of targeted anti poverty programmes. India
hasimplemented a number of income and employment generating
programmes in the last three decades.
A. Self-Employment Programmes
1 Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
2. Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)
3. Supply of Improved Toolkits to Rural Artisans (SITRA)

B. Rural Wage Employment Programmes

1. Rural Manpower Programme (RMP)
2. Crash Scheme for Rural Employment (CSRE)
3. National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)
4. Rural Labourers Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP)
5. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY) (a rural works programme
introduced in1989-1990, which later incorporated the NREP and
RLEGP)
C. Special Area Development Programmes
1. Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPEP)
2. Desert Development Programme (DDP)
3. Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)

D. Development of women and children in rural areas (DWCRA)

A. Self-Employment Programmes
IRDP launched on October 2nd. 1980 all over the Country. The
objective of  I.R.D.P. is to enable identified rural poor families to
cross the poverty line by providing productive assets and inputs to the
target groups. The assets which could be in primary, secondary or
tertiary sector are provided through financial assistance in the form of
subsidy by the Govt.and and term credit advanced by financial
institutions. The programme is implemented in all the blocks in the
country as a centrally sponsored scheme funded on 50:50 basis by the
Centre and State. The Scheme is merged with another Scheme named
S.G.S.Y. since 01.04.1999. the main objectives of the programme
are :-

 TRAINING OF RURAL YOUTH FOR SELF

EMPLOYMENT ( TRYSEM)
 SUPPLY OF IMPROVED TOOL-KITS TO RURAL
ARTISANS(SITRA)
 MILLION WELLS SCHEME( M.W.S.): Million Wells
Scheme was taken up as a sub-scheme of N.R.E.P. (National
Rural Employment Programme) and Rural Landless
Employment Guarantee Programme( R.L.E.G.P.) during the
year 1988-89 has continued under J.R.Y. Till 1989-90, the
objective of the scheme was to provide open irrigation wells to
small and marginal farmers amongst the Scheduled
 Caste/Scheduled Tribes and freed Bonded Labourers who are
below poverty line, free of cost. From 1990-91 onwards, under
Million Wells Scheme, the following works were also included.
(a) Construction of open irrigation wellls for the target group;
(b) Where wells are not feasible, other scheme of minor
irrigation like irrigation tanks, Water Harvesting Structures for
the benefit of target group can also be taken up. (c) The
provision under M.W.S. can also be utilised for the land
development of the target groups. From 01.01.1996, this scheme
had been delinked from J.R.Y. and made an independent scheme
by itself. Now the scheme is no more in operation and merged
with S.G.S.Y. since 01.04.1999.
 INDIRA AWAS YOJANA( I.A.Y.): Indira Awas
Yojana(I.A.Y.) which was launched during 1985-86 as a sub-
scheme of R.L.E.G.P. has continued as part of J.R.Y. since its
launch on April,1989. However from 01.01.1996, I.A.Y. has
been made a separate scheme.  The objective of I.A.Y. then was
to provide dwelling units, free of cost to the members of
Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribes and freed Bonded
Labourers living below the poverty line. 
.
 EMPLOYEMENT ASSURANCE SCHEME ( E.A.S.): The
Employment Assurance Scheme( E.A.S.) aims at providing
wage employment in unskilled mannual works to the rural poor
who are in need of employment and seeking it. The secondary
objective is to create economic infrastructure and community
assets for sustained employment and development. The
Employment Assurance Scheme for generating employment
opportunities to the rural poor on an assured basis has been
launched from 2nd. October,1993. 
 JAWAHAR GRAM SAMRIDHI
YOJANA( J.G.S.Y.): Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana( JGSY)
 is the restructured streamlined and comprehensive version of
erstwhile Jawahar Rojagar Yojana, designed to improve the
quality of life of the poor, JGSY has been launched on 1st.
April,1999. The primary objectives of the JGSY is creation of
demand driven community village infrastructure including
durable assets at the village level and assets to enable the rural
poor to increase the opportunity for sustained employment. The
secondary objective is the generation of supplementary
employment for the unemployed poor in the rural areas. The
wage employment under the programme shall be given to Below
Poverty line ( B.P.L. ) families.

B. Rural Wage Employment Programmes

The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana : Universal Rural wage
Employment Programme was a scheme launched by the Government
of India to attain the objective of providing gainful employment for
the rural poor. From 1 April 1999, EAS became an allocation-based
scheme.[2] The programme was implemented through the Panchayati
Raj institutions.
The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana was launched on 25
September 2001 by merging the provisions of Employment Assurance
Scheme (EAS) and Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY). The
programme is self-targeting in nature and aims to provide
employment and food to people in rural areas who lived below the
poverty line.
Employment Assurance Scheme
The Employment Assurance Scheme was concerned with wage
employment and was introduced to create employment opportunities
in times when there is a shortage of jobs.The sort of employment
provided mostly involved manual labour.
EAS was first implemented on 2 October 1993 in 1778 blocks located
in the rough, rugged, sparsely populated areas of the country.
Jawahar Gram Smridhi Yojana
The Jawahar Gram Smridhi Yojana, named after India's first Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru aimed at creating a need-based rural
infrastructure. Both these programmes have contributed a great deal
towards alleviating rural poverty. In 2001, the Food for Work
Programme was initiated to meet demands for wage employment and
food grain requirements.
The scheme was launched in 1989 by merging two wage employment
programmes: National Rural Employment Programme(NREP) and
Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme(RLEGP).It was
the single largest wage employment programme implemented through
Panchayat Raj institutions. The programme is implemented by the
District Panchayats, Intermediate Panchayats and Gram
Panchayats. The resources are allocated in the 20–30–50 ratio.
The Gram Panchayats commence their work based on the approval of
the Gram Sabha 50 percent of the funds for the Gram Panchayats are
used for the development of infrastructure in SC/ST dominated
areas. 22.5 percent of the funds allocated to District and Intermediate
Panchayats are also used for the development of individuals
belonging to SC/ST communities.
The employment of contractors or middlemen are not permitted under
this scheme.

JAWAHAR ROJAGAR YOJANA( J.R.Y.): Alleviation of rural

poverty has been one of the main objective of the development
programes. Since independence various schemes of employment
generation were taken up from time to time in the country. The Eigth
plan has also stressed the need for having a larger focus on the
programmes aimed at giving self employment and wage employment
to the poorer section of the community. During the first four years of
the Seventh Five Year Plan, two Wage-employment Programme viz;
N.R.E.P.(National Rural Employment Programme) and Rural
Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (R.L.E.G.P.) were in
operation in the country. From 01.04.1989 i.e. last year of the Seventh
Five Year Plan, these programmes were merged in to a single wage
employment programme known as Jawahar Rojagar Yojana( J.R.Y.).
The primary objectives of J.R.Y. is  generation of additional gainful
employment for the un-employed and under-employed men and
women in rural areas. The secondary objectives of this programme is
creation of sustainable employment by strengthening the rural
economic infrastructure

C. Special Area Development Programmes

DROUGHT PRONE AREA PROGRAMME( D.P.A.P.):   The
Drought Prone Area Programme(DPAP) aims to mitigate the adverse
effect of drought on the production of crops and livestock
,productivity of land, water and human resources.It strives to
encourage restoration of ecological balance and seeks to improve the
economic and social condition of the poor and the disadvantaged
sections of the rural community. Now DPAP is a people's programme
with Government assistance. There is a specific arrangement for
maintenance of assets and social audit by Panchayati Raj institutions.
Development of all catagories of land belonging to Gram Panchayat,
Government and individuals fall within the limits of the selected
watersheds for development.Allocation is to be shared equally by the
Centre and State Government on 50:50 basis Watershed Committees
is to contribute for maintenance of the assets created. Utilisation of 50
% of allocation under the Employment Assurance Scheme(EAS) is
for the Watershed Development funds are directly released for
sanction of projects and release of funds to Watershed Committees
and Project Implementing Agencies(PIAs). 
Desert Development Programme (DDP)- The basic object of the
programme is to minimise the adverse effect of drought and control
desertification through rejuvenation of natural resource base of the
identified desert areas. The programme strives to achieve ecological
balance in the long run. The programme also aims at promoting
overall economic development and improving the socioeconomic
conditions of the resource poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting
the programme areas. Upto 1994-95, Desert Development
Programme was under implementation in 131 blocks of 21 districts in
5 States.
3. Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)

                The  Hill  Area  Development  Programme,  introduced  in 

Nilgiris  District  since  the  year  1975, is  funded  by  the 
Government   of   India  to  supplement   the   plan   resources  of  the 
state  by   providing  Special  Central  Assistance.

OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of HADP is eco-restoration, eco- development

and eco preservation. While taking care of the socio economic and
developmental needs of the District, the HADP is to develop land use
planning for forest areas to cultivable areas to conserve soil, water and
increase productivity of land, economic upliftment of tribals in an
isolated settlements and also to ensure peoples participation in all
developmental activities. This translated on the field consist of the
following components:

1. To preserve and conserve sholas and grasslands of

Nilgiris.

2. Development of land use plan for forest area as well as

cultivated areas.
 3. Conserve soil and water to increase productivity of the
land by using vegetative methods and changing the
cropping pattern.

4. Promote non-land based economic activities to uplift the

poor people and to ensure environment Protection.

5. Economic upliftment of tribals in isolated locations,

settlements.

6. To evolve a comprehensive human settlement policy

and discourage migration.

7. "Area based Approach" adopted and integrated plans to

be prepared for all watersheds and high priority watershed
shall be chosen for treatment.

8. Use of scientific interventions will be encouraged i.e.

Application of Remote sensing, etc.,

9. Promotion of Non-Conventional Energy sources i.e.

Solar, Hydro, Bio-gas, etc.,

D. DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN

RURAL AREAS(DWCRA) : The Development of Women and
Children in rural areas(DWCRA) programme was launched as a sub-
component of IRDP and a centrally sponsored scheme of the
Department of Rural Development with UNICEF cooperation to
strengthen the women's component of poverty alleviation
programmes. It is directed at raising the income levels of women of
poor households so as to enable their organised participation in social
development towards economic self reliance. The DWCRA's primary
thrust is on the formation of groups of 15 to 20 women from poor
household at the village level for delivery of services like credit and
skill training, cash and infrastructural support for self employment.
Through the strategy of group formation, the programme aims to
improve women's access to basic services of health, education, child
care, nutrition and sanitation. It is merged with S.G.S.Y. since
01.04.1999.

But the fact :

In India, the need for poverty alleviation has been recognized almost
since the nation’s independence 50 years ago. While initially it was
expected that the overall economic development strategies
incorporated in the Government’s five-year development plans would
also reduce poverty among the masses, later on (perhaps in the 1960s)
programmes specifically designed and addressed to the cause of
poverty alleviation among the rural poor became indispensable. In the
last four decades a number of such programmes have been and still
are being implemented in this country. Simultaneously, the control of
population growth through family welfare programmes and the
eradication of illiteracy through special literacy drives were conceived
and implemented as important planks of human development.
In addition to these national-level programmes (past and present)
undertaken by the federal Government, several NGOs and voluntary
associations have initiated micro-level training with or without
outside assistance. These programmes, using the methods of non-
formal education, have proved to be very popular, especially amongst
women and children who either dropped out of school or never
attended in the first place. The programmes have emphasized the
development of income-earning capacities and self-sufficiency on the
part of their beneficiaries. There is no doubt that these income and
employment generation programmes implemented by both the
Government and NGOs during the last three decades have had some
impact on the level of poverty in the country. The Government claims
that the proportion of the population below the poverty line has gone
down by more than 20 percentage points, in other words, from a little
more than 50 per cent in the 1960s to a little less than 30 per cent in
the 1990s.