INTRODUCTION: -

"India lives in its villages" - Mahatma Gandhi

Literally and from the social, economic and political perspectives the statement is valid even today. Around 65% of the State's population is living in rural areas. People in rural areas should have the same quality of life as is enjoyed by people living in sub urban and urban areas. Further there are some effects of poverty, unemployment, poor and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas. Rural Development which is concerned with economic growth and social justice, improvement in the living standard of the rural people by providing adequate and quality social services and minimum basic needs becomes essential. The present strategy of rural development mainly focuses on poverty alleviation, better livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities through innovative programmes of wage and selfemployment. The above goals will be achieved by various programme support being implemented creating partnership with communities, on-governmental organizations, community based organizations, institutions, and industrial establishments, and industrial establishments. The Government's policy and programmers have laid emphasis on poverty alleviation, generation of employment and income opportunities and provision of infrastructure and basic facilities to meet the needs of rural poor. For realizing these objectives, self-employment and wage employment programmes continued to pervade in one form or other. The major schemes or policy implemented by the Indian Government are:The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) Self Employed Womens Association (SEWA) Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY) 5. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
1. 2. 3. 4.

Goals, Objectives and Strategy :The prime goal of rural development is to improve the quality of life of the rural people by alleviating poverty through the instrument of self-employment and wage employment programmes, by providing community infrastructure facilities such as drinking water, electricity, road connectivity, health facilities, rural housing and education

1.The National Rural Employement Gurantee Act (NREGA)

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is an Indian job guarantee scheme, enacted by legislation on August 25, 2005. The scheme provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage of Rs120 per day in 2009 prices. The Central government outlay for scheme is 40,000 crore in FY 2010-11. This act was introduced with an aim of improving the purchasing power of the rural people, primarily semi or un-skilled work to people living in rural India, whether or not they are below the poverty line. Around one-third of the stipulated work force is women. The law was initially called the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) but was renamed on 2 October 2009

Planning :The act directs state governments to implement MGNREGA "schemes". Under the MGNREGA the Central Government meets the cost towards the payment of wage, 3/4 of material cost and some percentage of administrative cost. State Governments meet the cost of unemployment allowance, 1/4 of material cost and administrative cost of State council. Since the State Governments pay the unemployment allowance, they are heavily incentivized to offer employment to workers. However, it is up to the State Government to decide the amount of unemployment allowance, subject to the stipulation that it not be less than 1/4 the minimum wage for the first 30 days, and not less than 1/2 the minimum wage thereafter. 100 days of employment (or unemployment allowance) per household must be provided to able and willing workers every financial year.

Provisions under NREGA

Adult members of a rural household, willing to do unskilled manual work, may apply for registration in writing or orally to the local Gram Panchayat The Gram Panchayat after due verification will issue a Job Card. The Job Card will bear the photograph of all adult members of the household willing to work under NREGA and is free of cost. The Job Card should be issued within 15 days of application. A Job Card holder may submit a written application for employment to the Gram Panchayat, stating the time and duration for which work is sought. The minimum days of employment have to be at least fourteen. The Gram Panchayat will issue a dated receipt of the written application for employment, against which the guarantee of providing employment within 15 days operates Employment will be given within 15 days of application for work, if it is not then daily unemployment allowance as per the Act, has to be paid liability of payment of unemployment allowance is of the States. Work should ordinarily be provided within 5 km radius of the village. In case work is provided beyond 5 km, extra wages of 10% are payable to meet additional transportation and living expenses Wages are to be paid according to the Minimum Wages Act 1948 for agricultural laborers in the State, unless the Centre notices a wage rate which will not be less than 60 per day. Equal wages will be provided to both men and women. Note: The original version of the Act was passed with Rs 60/ day as the minimum wage that needs to be paid under NREGA. However, a lot of states in India already have wage regulations

with minimum wages set at more than Rs100 per day. NREGA's minimum wage has since been changed to Rs120 per day.

Wages are to be paid according to piece rate or daily rate. Disbursement of wages has to be done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case. At least one-third beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested work under the scheme. Work site facilities such as crche, drinking water, shade have to be provided The shelf of projects for a village will be recommended by the gram sabha and approved by the zilla panchayat. At least 50% of works will be allotted to Gram Panchayats for execution Permissible works predominantly include water and soil conservation, afforestation and land development works A 60:40 wage and material ratio has to be maintained. No contractors and machinery is allowed The Central Govt. bears the 100 percent wage cost of unskilled manual labour and 75 percent of the material cost including the wages of skilled and semi skilled workers Social Audit has to be done by the Gram Sabha Grievance redressal mechanisms have to be put in place for ensuring a responsive implementation process All accounts and records relating to the Scheme should be available for public scrutiny

National Reports (2011-2012)

Employment provided to HHS Persondays in Crore Total SCs STs Women Others Total works taken up Works completed Works in progress : : : : : : : : : 1.59 crore 31.07 6.64 (21.37%) 6.21 (19.97%) 1 5.2 (48.91%) 18.23 (58.66%) 49.35 Lakhs. 0.59 Lakhs. 48.76 Lakhs.

2. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) :Introduction:

Rural road connectivity is a key component of rural development by promoting access to economic and social services which there by generate agriculture income and employment opportunity in India but also a key ingredient in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction. About

40% of the habitations in the country are still not connected by all-weather roads. It is well known that even where the connectivity has been provided the quality of roads are of poor quality that they cannot always be categorized as all-weather roads. Seeing this poor condition of roads government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana on 25th December 2000 to provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations. This yojana is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.

Program objective:
The primary objective of PMGY is to provide connectivity by all-weather roads to eligible unconnected habitations in the rural area, in such a way that all unconnected habitations with population of 1000 persons and above are covered in three years and all unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons and above by the end of the tenth plan period. In respect of the Hill States (North-East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttaranchal) and the Desert Areas (as identified in the Desert Development Programme) as well as the tribal (Schedule V) areas, the objective would be to connect habitations with a population of 250 persons and above.

Planning, Funding, Construction and Maintenance of Rural Roads:

Proper planning is imperative to achieve the objectives of the Programme in a systematic and cost effective manner. The manual for the preparation of District Rural Roads Plan and the core network shall be treated as part of the guidelines and would stand amended to the extent modified by the present guidelines. The manual lays down the various steps in the planning process and the role of different agencies including the intermediate Panchayat, the district Panchayat as well as the State Level Standing Committee. The Rural Roads Plan and the core network would constitute the basis for all planning exercises under the PMGSY. The District Rural Roads Plan would indicate the entire existing road network system in the district and also clearly identify the proposed roads for providing connectivity to unconnected habitations, in an economic and efficient manner in terms of cost and utility. The core network will identify the roads required to assure each eligible habitation with a basic access (single all-weather road connectivity) to essential social and economic services. Accordingly, the core network would consist of some of the existing roads as well as all the roads proposed for new construction under the PMGSY. Once the core network is prepared, it is possible to estimate the length of roads for new connectivity as well as up gradation for every district. States may, each year, distribute the States allocation among the districts giving 80% on the basis of road length required for providing connectivity to unconnected habitations and 20% on the basis of road length requiring up gradation under the PMGSY. The district wise allocation of funds would also be communicated to the Ministry / NRRDA / and STA every year by the State Government. In making the district wise allocation, the road lengths already taken up under the PMGSY or any other program may be excluded. The figures of new construction length will thus keep on changing every year till such time as all unconnected habitations have been covered in the district. The relevant projects would be executed by the PIUs and completed within a period of 9 months from the date of issue of the work order. A work program shall be obtained from the contractor for each work and approved by the PIU. Payment shall be made only after the approval of the work program, deployment by the contractor of the requisite number of engineers

and setting up of the Quality Control Laboratory at site. Ensuring the quality of the road works is the responsibility of the state governments, who are implementing the program. To this end, all works will be effectively supervised. The NRRDA will issue general guidelines on Quality Control and prescribe a Quality Control Handbook to regulate the quality control process at works level. Quality Control Registers containing the results of tests prescribed in the Quality Control Handbook shall invariably be maintained for each of the road works. A site Quality Control Laboratory will be set up by the contractor for each package. Payments shall not be made to the contractor unless the laboratory has been duly set up and equipped, quality control tests are regularly conducted, recorded and have been found to be successful. The Standard Bidding Document shall incorporate suitable clauses for ensuring Quality Control and a performance guarantee by the contractor, which should be discharged only after consulting the Panchayati Raj Institutions responsible for maintenance. The National Quality Monitors shall inspect the road works with particular reference to Quality. They may take samples from the site and get them examined by any competent Technical Agency / Institution. They shall also report on the general functioning of the Quality Control mechanism in the District. The monitors shall submit their report to the NRRDA. The reports of the NQMs will be sent by NRRDA to the State Quality Coordinator for appropriate action within a period to be specified. In case quality check by SQM or NQM reveals unsatisfactory work, the PIU shall ensure that the contractor replaces the material or rectifies the workmanship within the time period stipulated. In respect of NQM Reports, the SQC shall, each month, report on the action taken on each of the pending reports. All works rated unsatisfactory shall be re-inspected by an SQM or NQM after a rectification report has been received from the State Quality Coordinator. Effective monitoring of the programme being critical, the State Governments will ensure that the officials are prompt in sending the requisite reports / information to the SRRDA as well as the NRRDA. The On-line Management & Monitoring System (OMMS) will be the chief mechanism for monitoring the programme. To this end, the officials are required to furnish, on-line, all the data and information, as may be prescribed by the NRRDA from time to time, in the relevant module of the On-line Management & Monitoring System. They shall be responsible for uninterrupted maintenance of the Computer Hardware and Software as well as the Internet connectivity. The software for the OMMS shall be supplied by the NRRDA and it shall not be modified at any level in the states; any requirement or suggestion for change shall be intimated to the NRRDA. PMGSY is a huge central investment in the State sector as part of a poverty reduction strategy. This investment in essentially the last mile connectivity is likely to be useful only if the main rural road network, particularly the rural core network is maintained in good condition. In the context of a farm to market connectivity, proper maintenance is essential if risks of long term investments, on-farm as well as off-farm, are to be taken by the rural entrepreneur. Accordingly, the putting in place of institutional measures to ensure systematic maintenance and providing adequate funding for maintenance of the rural core network, particularly the Through Routes, will be key to the continuance of the PMGSY program in the State. To this end, state governments will take steps to build up capacity in the district Panchayats and shall endeavor to devolve the funds and functionaries onto these Panchayats in order to be able to manage maintenance contracts for rural roads. All PMGSY roads will be covered by 5-year maintenance contracts, to be entered into along with the construction contract, with the same contractor, as per the Standard Bidding Document. Maintenance funds to service the contract will be budgeted by the State Government and placed at the disposal of the SRRDA

in a separate Maintenance Account. Rural Roads Safety Since rural roads are generally low traffic volume roads and accident rates are presently quite low, safety issues relate mainly to design and construction features and road safety consciousness of local residents. At the Central level, these issues will be addressed through coordination with the Road Safety Mission of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. At the state level, the State Quality Coordinator at state level and the Head of the DPIU at district level shall be tasked by the state governments to coordinate with the state governments road safety mechanisms and programs, in particular through membership of the State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees respectively created as per provision of Section 215 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act No.59 of 1988).

Fund flow, Procedure for release and Audit:

The SRRDA shall select a Bank branch with internet connectivity at the State Headquarters, of any Public Sector Bank or Institution based Bank for maintaining the Programme Account, Administrative account and Maintenance accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Once selected, the Account shall not be changed to any other branch or bank without concurrence of NRRDA. There will be a written undertaking from the bank that it will follow the guidelines of government of India for payments from the PMGSY Funds. The concerned branch will maintain Internet connectivity and enter the data into the relevant module of the On-line Management & Monitoring System. The SRRDA will communicate to the NRRDA and to the ministry the details of the bank branch and the account numbers. The Ministry of Rural Development shall release the program funds and the administrative and travel expenses and quality control funds respectively into the program and administrative account. The State Government shall credit the administrative account with funds for the proper functioning of the SRRDA. Funds for administration of maintenance contracts of PMGSY roads shall be credited to the maintenance account of the SRRDA. The State Government shall credit the program account with funds in order to meet works related expenses not found eligible to be funded by the ministry under the PMGSY, and to meet cost escalation, tender premium and other program expenses which are the responsibility of the State Government. The PMGSY has adopted a project approach where road works have to be completed within a stipulated time. The funds for the cleared projects will be made available to the SRRDA in two installments. The first installment amounting to 50% of the cleared value of projects, shall be released subject to fulfillment of conditions, if any, stipulated earlier. Since the cost of only the contracted works have to be paid, the second installment would be calculated on this basis, and would be equal to the balance due on the cost of the awarded works. Release would be subject to utilization of 60% of the available funds and completion of at least 80% of the road works awarded in the year previous to the preceding year and 100% of the awarded works of all the years preceding that year, and fulfillment of other conditions, if any, stipulated while releasing the previous installment. Works cleared and not awarded by the time of the 2nd installment would be deemed as lapsed. Available funds will be the funds available with the SRRDA on 1st April of the Financial Year plus the amount of the installment released, if any, during the Financial Year. The SRRDA will ensure that the accounts are audited by a Chartered Accountant selected from a panel approved by the CAG, within six months of the close of the financial year. This account

will be supported by a statement of reconciliation with the accounts of PIUs and a certificate of the Chartered Accountant on its accuracy. In addition to the Audit by the Chartered Accountant, the works under this Programme would be subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (C&AG). The audit of the work done by the C&AG may cover aspects of quality, in addition to financial audit. Both the State level Agency and the PIUs must provide all relevant information to District level Vigilance and Monitoring Committees.

3. Self Employed Womens Association (SEWA) :The Water Campaign :

The areas of North Gujarat where SEWA works are mainly arid and semi-arid. Safe drinking water is a major problem, as is water for irrigation. Without water, both living conditions and the economy remain depressed in these areas. In 1995, SEWAs local leaders organized gram sabhas in 290 villages. The response was overwhelming with villagers coming together to identify their major problem as an acute shortage of water. The women leaders then identified the usually defunct or untapped water resources in their villages and the exact reason for the shortage - some had no well at all, in some there was a bore well but the pump was out of order, in others there was a pipeline, but water was rarely piped through. They identified the agency responsible for their water source, and the means of obtaining assured water, new water sources and repair of existing sources. They, then, began to work with the village Panchayat towards a solution collection of funds from villagers, contacting responsible authorities, linking with Government schemes, bringing in new technical solutions, and education campaigns within the village. The villagers have been responding to SEWA members with great enthusiasm, and in some areas results are already visible, with water tankers being provided in some villages, repair works beginning in others and new water resources provided in a few. In 2006 too, this campaign was carried forward by women leaders.

Message of the Water Campaign:

Access to clean drinking water is the right of every human being. Water is the basic necessity for life, livelihood, health and progress. Lack of water is the main cause of migration.

Demand of the Water Campaign:

In every village, there is a need to set up sources for drinking water. The responsibility of operating and maintaining these sources lies with the local members. This year also various capacity building trainings were organized under the water campaign. These trainings were mainly in the area of water harvesting, water quality and fluorosis control, water and water borne disease, water management and environment, water quality, monitoring and surveillance, hand pump repairing training, operation and maintenance training, Health Education and hygiene. 152 members from 5 districts had received plumbing training. These members were also given plumbing kits and thereby earned an income of Rs. 500 per month. The water campaign team also worked during the floods in 2006. The water campaign teams played an important role in cleanliness of the villages and prevented the outbreak of disease.

SEWA is also a governing board member of India Water Partnership, which is the country chapter of Global Water Partnership. SEWA is also a member of Gender and Water Alliance which works at the global level. Both these organization work for water related issues at the global level and that the campaign for these issues world-wide gains momentum.

Campaign for Forest Workers:

Women have been forest and nursery workers and collectors of minor forest produce for years. However, they have not received the technical support and services that they require. On the other hand, it is they who are the worst sufferers in the increasing ecological degeneration and land degradation at the local level. In addition, some policies of governments forest department, including their own nursery rising, are an impediment to womens employment. These policies are not only a hindrance but also result in declining incomes of the poorest of women who depend on forest and nursery rising for survival. In this context, SEWA has initiated a national and state level campaign since last 13 years to hand over nursery-raising to local women. Some of the major issues emerging out of the campaign are partial allotment of nurseries by the forest department in spite of the huge demand for nurseries. This results in non-availability of employment for the members. This is a major challenge because in absence of the support from the state, the members are unable to sustain the activity taken up by them. E.g. the contract for rising of nursery is given to group of women for only a year and this does not ensure sustainable livelihood. The members receive capacity building training for rising of nursery, but their knowledge and capabilities in the area becomes redundant if they are unable to seek sustainable employment. Also the forestry related schemes of the forest department are based on cost norms that are more than decades old. There is a need to revise these norms, in absence of which it is extremely difficult to make the nurseries profitable or even viable. Also the forest department presently pays Rs.1.10 for non-fruit and fruit growing plants. This is to the women who work so hard and far below the market rates. Unless plantation become an income generating activity poor will not take up forestry on scale to make forests sustainable; forestry must be made a sustainable source of income for poor families and women. Also there is hardly any technical guidance available to the women who take up forestry as an economic activity. Forestry schemes without support services have no meaning. Such technical services should be available at the plantation level, and also it must adapt local needs from region-to-region basis. Therefore under the feminize our forests campaign, SEWA is advocating for annual nurseries as well as increasing the allocation of costs. The campaign has also led to demonstrate actions with an integrated approach and achieving sustainability. Women have now started taking-up nursery rising as an economic activity. In spite of absence of allocation of nurseries from the state government the women now take loans and raise nurseries. The campaign is now also reaching national and international levels. SEWA being a member of UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), SEWA was also invited as a country representative at the Womens Committee to Combat Desertification setup by UNCCD. SEWA presented the policy issues at this consultation and the same were added and formed a part of the recommendations for policy formulations.

Campaign for Agricultural Laborers:

Over 60% of our members live in rural areas which have arid and semi-arid climate. The main occupation of these members is agriculture, which is mainly rain-fed. With the depleting water

tables, the condition of the farmers is pitiable. In order to solve the problems of these agricultural workers, SEWA started the agriculture campaign in the year 1995. Today this campaign has taken the form of a movement. The major problems faced by the small and marginal farmers include non-availability of credit, water, seeds, fertilizers, other inputs, lack of access to technology and lack of access to markets. All these factors have led to exploitation of the farmers and they remain in the clutches of traders and money lenders and pay heavy interest rates which push them further in the vicious circle of poverty. Also with globalization and increasing mechanization in farming, as well as other rapid changes in agriculture like export oriented cash crop cultivation, our members face many challenges. Secondly, our members do all the work related to agriculture. Yet their contribution is not recognized. They need identity cards, voice and representation. When policies are made, our members demand that they are consulted and involved in such decision making. Therefore the agriculture campaign has taken up the issues of recognition of women as farmers to building of village level farmers organization which collectively works on providing the needed agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. The farmers organization were also equipped by setting up tools and equipments libraries which have the needed as well as latest tools and equipments which gives the farmers timely access to tools and equipments. Thus the agriculture campaign provides an integrated package of credit, technology, inputs. With this the most crucial link is access to markets. The agriculture campaign encouraged and motivated the farmers to organize Krishi Bazaars farmers markets- locally as well as at national level. The members have earned a total income of Rs. 12,27,481 through these krishi bazaars. Vegetables and agricultural commodities are now sold through the farmers market, thus linking up the farmers directly to the market. This approach also strengthens the farmers to build alliances with the private sector. The agriculture campaign has now gained momentum and also spread to national and regional level where SEWA is founder of All India Women Farmers Association and at the regional level, SEWA is setting-up the farmers forum.

Campaign for Recognition of Dais (Traditional Birth Attendants) as Village Health Workers:
Dais or Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) have been conducting home deliveries in Gujarats villages for centuries. They also provide general primary health services to families. Yet they remain unrecognized by the governments Health Department and society in general. They neither get the respect that is their due nor do they play any significant role in the government health system. SEWA has been demanding that the dais be registered, given identity cards and be given responsibility for providing decentralized health care at womens doorsteps in the villages. In 2004, the government issued a formal resolution (GR) recognizing dais and promoting them as village health workers. The Dai Sangathan (Gujarat) was formally registered as an organization of dais from all over the State in 2005. SEWA is a founder member, along with 6 NGOs. SEWA is also the secretariat of this new organization.

Campaign for Child Care as a Basic Service:

For poor working women, child care is a priority and basic need. Our experience has been that when appropriate and affordable child care is organized for workers, they can earn and their

productivity increases. Enhanced income brings in better food, nutrition and health care to womens families, as they can now spend on these needs. They also report peace of mind, knowing that their children are being taken care of properly. Finally, workers older children are released from child care responsibilities and start attending school. For all these reasons, SEWA has been campaigning for child care as an entitlement for all women workers for some years now. We have been a founder-member of FORCES (Forum for Creches and Child Care Services). In 1996 we began the process of starting a Gujarat chapter of FORCES. A state-level meeting of several organizations involved in child care was held and its recommendation widely circulated, follow-up dialogue with state-level planners and policy-makers is continuing. In addition, we have been pressing our demand for child care as part of the governments Minimum Needs Programme and for appropriate budgetary allocations at both state and central government levels. In 2005 40 NGOs were part of Gujarat FORCES whose secretariat is at SEWA. Some of the campaigns described here are undertaken at national level, state or local level. Some are even active at the international level. Still others are operative at a combination of levels. This year, we put considerable emphasis and effort in pushing these campaigns forward. Women themselves actively participated, voicing their concerns and contributing to plans in committees and with the concerned government officials. Most of them are ongoing and have to be pursued actively each year. Through these campaigns there is increased mobilization. They are a boost to SEWAs organizing efforts. They also strengthen womens leadership and own workers organizations. It is a slow and long-term process which leads to overall development of women, their families and ultimately social change. It brings poor women and their concerns into the mainstream of society. It makes them more and more visible.

Campaign for legislation entitling workers on the informal economy to social security:
Policy Action for Umbrella Legislation for Unorganized Sector Workers: - The Government of India through its resolution dated 15,October 1999 constituted the Second National Commission on Labor, with the twin objective of suggesting rationalization of existing labor laws in the organized sector and to suggest umbrella legislation for ensuring a minimum level of protection to the workers in the unorganized sector. Elaben Bhatt, Founder of SEWA, was a member of the Commission. This Commission then set up a task force which thoroughly examined the issues of unorganized sector workers and gave its report. Based on this report the Commission suggested a draft bill, which was part of the Commissions report. On the recommendations of the Commission, the ministry of Labor prepared a bill which was known as Unorganized Sector Workers Bill, 2003. The main objective of the bill is to regulate the employment and conditions of service of unorganized sector workers and to provide for their safety, social security, health and welfare. The bill was then discussed in the Indian Labor Conference and other for a where SEWA participated. It was also circulated to the Government Ministries and the State Governments for the Comments. In 2005, the Government asked SEWA to prepare a new draft bill. SEWA focused on social security and prepared The Unorganized Sector Social Security Bill, 2005 and submitted it to the government. SEWA was also invited to be an adviser in the National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS). Here, too, we helped to prepare both a bill on social security incorporating most of SEWAs earlier draft bill and a report on the social security of

unorganized sector workers. SEWA has been actively working with other national level unions and workers groups to press for this legislation that it should for a start, be tabled in the Parliament and debated there. We have been meeting with the government, especially the labor ministry, and stressing the importance of this bill and the need for social security as a right of unorganized sector workers. This has now developed into a national level campaign. SEWA organized a rally to press for this social security legislation in New Delhi, along with other national unions. The rally was held on October 2nd, 2006 Mahatma Gandhis birthdaywith 2000 informal workers from all over India participating. Several union leaders and leaders of peoples movements, like the one for the Right to Information, addressed the rally. All present pledged to ensure that the social security legislation passed through Parliament and that the benefits would actually reach the workers of the informal economy in all parts of the country.

4. Swarnajayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) :The magnitude of poverty and disparities that existed between the various social groups necessitated planned state intervention to provide succour and relief particularly to the disadvantaged and marginalised groups such as SC/ST, women etc. Keeping this in view and having regard to the positive aspects as well as deficiencies, the earlier self-employment programmes like TRYSEM, SITRA, GKY, DWCRA, IRDP and MWS were Merged and a new self-employment programme viz., SGSY was launched w.e.f.1-4-1999. The SGSY is conceived as a holistic programme of micro enterprises covering all aspects of self-employment and establishing effective linkages between the various components viz., organization of the rural poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs), their capacity building, planning of activity clusters, infrastructure build up, technology, credit and marketing etc. The main objective of the programme is to bring the existing poor families above the poverty line. Among the rural poor, special emphasis will be given for the welfare of SCs/STs, women and disabled. The programme lays emphasis on organization of poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their capacity building. The SHGs may consist of 10 to 20 persons. 4 to 5 key activities will beidentified in each block based on the resource endowments, occupational skills of the people and availability of markets and these activities will be implemented in clusters. 10% of the SGSY fund will be set apart for training, wherein emphasis will be given for skill development through well designed courses. SGSY is a Credit cum Subsidy programme with the involvement of banking and financial institutions. The expenditure under SGSY is shared by the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25. Subsidy will be provided at 30% of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 7,500 and 50% for SC/ST subject to a maximum of Rs. 10,000. For groups, the subsidy is 50% subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1.25 lakhs.

5. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) :With a view to meeting the housing needs of the rural poor, Indira Awaas Yojana(IAY) was launched in May 1985 as a sub scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. It is being implemented as an independent scheme since 1 January 1996. It aims at helping below poverty line rural households belonging to SCs/STs, free bonded laborers, widows of next of kin of defence personnel, ex-

servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces and also non SC/ST rural poor by providing them with grant-in-aid for construction of new dwelling units and up gradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses. 3% of funds are reserved for the benefit of disabled poor below the poverty line in rural areas. The assistance ceiling for each house in plain area is fixed at Rs. 20,000/- and for hill/ difficult areas Rs. 22,000. In order to enable fire proof RCC roofed houses to be provided, the State Government provides additionally Rs. 12,000 per house as additional cost apart from its usual matching share to the Central grant. The expenditure towards provision of RCC roofing is met under Adi-dravida Welfare head. Therefore, the unit cost including sanitary latrine under this scheme is Rs. 32,000/- in normal terrain and Rs. 34,000 in difficult terrain. 80% of the IAY funds is earmarked for construction new houses and 20% is towards up gradation of unserviceable kutcha houses at the rate of Rs. 10,000/- per unit. The funds under IAY are shared between Centre and States in the ratio of 75:25. During the Tenth Plan it has been proposed to construct 1,54,090 new houses and to upgrade 78,970 unserviceable kutcha houses into pucca houses.

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14. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana website 15. http://www.sewarachaita.org 16. SEWA.org 17. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, 2001 Ministry of Rural Development, Government of
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18. GUIDELINES for INDIRA AWAAS YOJANA-Introduction". rural.nic.in. Retrieved 8 March 2011.