Poverty Alleviation Programmes

The government is following a focused approach through various flagship schemes in the areas of poverty all deviation and employment generation to achieve inclusive development. As the last exercise conducted in 2002 to identify people living in poverty in rural areas had several limitations, the Dr. N. C. Saxena Committee was constituted to advise on the methodology for conducting a below poverty line (BPL) census. Consequently, a Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) has commenced in June 2011 through a door-to-door enumeration across the country, which after due deliberation will form the basis of targeting beneficiaries under various social-sector progarmmes. Some important poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes are as follows:

Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• Flagship programme of the government aiming at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a ancial year to every household with the stipulation of one-third participation of women.
• Provides wage employment while also focusing on strengthening natural resource management through works that address causes of chronic poverty like drought, deforestation, and soil erosion and thus encourage sustainable development.
• The MGNREGA is implemented in all districts with rural areas.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has come a long way since its inception and has become a lifeline to millions. The Act was notified on 7th September, 2005 to provide minimum of 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Social inclusion, gender parity, social security and equitable growth are the founding pillars of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.

Achievements

During Financial Year (FY) 2015-16, 235 crore person days were generated which was the highest compared to the previous five years. During FY 2016-17, 5.1231 crore households were provided employment. In the process 235.8173 crore person- days of employment were generated. Out of the total employment, 56% have been generated for women. This is the highest ever participation of women since inception of the programme.

Total expenditure in the programme since its inception is Rs. 3,76,546 crore and Rs.48,000 crore is the allocation of fund for FY 2017-18, which is the highest ever allocation for MGNREGA. The expenditure in FY 2016-17 is Rs. 58,284.96 crore and is the highest since inception.

For the first time since inception of the programme, Consolidated Guidelines for Water Conservation were drafted. Mission Water conservation ‘ Planning and monitoring Framework for Natural Resource Management (NRM) related works under MGNREGA in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) has been prepared for scientific planning and execution of water management works with the use of latest technology is the focus area of the Ministry.

In FY 2016-17 (so far) 63% of total expenditure is on NRM (Natural Resource Management) works. Expenditure on agriculture and allied sector works in FY 2016-17 is nearly 70%, which was only around 48 % in FY 2013-14. Geo MGNREGA is a path breaking initiative that uses space technology for geo-tagging all assets created under MGNREGA for improved planning, effective monitoring, enhanced visibility and greater transparency. The initiative was implemented in FY 2016-17, and so far, nearly 65 Lakh assets have been geo-tagged and made available in the public domain.